Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two recently crashed while
performing tests last week. While it is
still early to say exactly what happened, it is believed that the feathering
system, which is used for the re-entry of SpaceShip Two was deployed too early
causing the spacecraft to crash killing the co-pilot and injuring the
pilot.
Space travel has been a hot topic as of late. There has been a shift of space travel from
government programs such as NASA to private companies. Space X has successfully launched a number of
rockets to the international space station with supplies. Virgin Galactic has been developing a couple
of different spacecrafts that they hope will allow customers to buy a ticket
into space. Scaled Composites has been
working with Virgin Galactic is designing the spacecraft. Their first version SpaceShip One was the
first private spacecraft that could be reused and won the X-Prize as a
result. Customers have been purchasing their
spot with Virgin Galactic when it becomes operational for customers.
The FAA has some regulations when it comes to space
travel. Some of the regulations can be
found in Title 14 CFR Chapter III- Commercial Space Transportation. It deals with general definitions, procedures
of space travel and licensing of space travel, including such things as launch
license, safety and reentry sites that can be used. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/regulations/
I believe that with enough time there will be space tourism
to the general public, however right now I am not entirely sure when it will
happen. Much like when passengers were
flown on commercial aircraft, it was those individuals that were wealthy that
enjoyed flights first. As technology
advanced and air travel became safer, more reliable and profitable more
individuals could afford to fly. This is
bound to happen with space tourism as well.
Hopefully it will be affordable in my lifetime!
From the management side of the space tourism aspect the
current job market is seeking individuals with engineering backgrounds for many
of the jobs at hand. Once there is a
fleet of spacecraft for tourism there will be a need for managerial positions
to organize flight schedules, crews, the required licenses and waivers, just to
name a few
It will be interesting to see how long space travel is held up due solely to the lack of regulations created for it. There is not much now and there will only be more rules and regs added especially as more incidents like this occur. I hope the FAA is able to keep up and mitigate the loss of human life as space travel becomes more developed.
ReplyDeleteI found similar information regarding management positions; the vast majority of space flight jobs seem to be seeking an engineering or science-based background. It will be very interesting to see how that may change as commercial space businesses become more mainstream as opposed to experimental and require a bigger workforce.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there will be many great opportunities for management positions with Virgin Galactic and probably pay very well also. Hopefully they will not be discouraged by this and keep pushing forward because it would create great opportunities for the aviation industry.
ReplyDeleteManagement will probably have to share duties with federal agencies. I foresee a lot of space planning to start with NASA, if at very least to be on top of the space junk tracking. Pilots take it for granted that the sky is mostly empty, space is crowded.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how management and the FAA would deal with scheduling astronauts. If space travel were to pick up I wounder how strict the rest/duty times would be?
ReplyDeleteDo you have any idea what other regulations may develop as space tourism further develops?
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