And Not A Moment Too Soon

With the inaugural launch from New Mexico's new spaceport scheduled for sometime next month -- and many, many more set to follow in the VERY near future, from several locations -- the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Air Force (USAF) Space Command came down to the wire, in a sense, in issuing their new common federal launch safety standards.

These rules -- designed to create consistent, integrated space launch rules for the nation -- were issued Friday. They will go into effect in one year, and apply to all unmanned commercial satellite and cargo launches.

"The consistent government approach will make expendable commercial rocket launch operations safer, more efficient and less costly," said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey. "In addition, the new FAA rules will ensure the same safety standards for rocket launches apply to both federal and non-federal launch sites."

The FAA states this new rule will strengthen public safety... by harmonizing launch procedures that identify potential problems early and by implementing a formal system of safety checks and balances. The new FAA regulations govern commercial launch operations at both federal and non-federal launch sites.

Most commercial space launch activities licensed by the FAA have taken place at the national launch ranges at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, which are both operated by USAF Space Command... but as new spaceports come online in New Mexico, west Texas, California, Virginia... and many other locales in the coming years, that will likely change.

"For the first time, the regulations on commercial launches will have common standards applied by the FAA and the Air Force," said FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation Patricia Grace Smith.

Both the FAA and the USAF have congressionally directed responsibilities for the safety of licensed launches from Air Force launch ranges. Since 1997, the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation and USAF Space Command have worked together in a formal partnership to develop, maintain, improve and document common launch safety requirements.

FMI: Read The New Regulations