Commercial Space Travel

            “Space Tourism” has come to existence on 28 April 2001. “On that date, American businessman Dennis Tito became history’s first space tourist, paying his own way to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.” (Wall, 2011). This set the precedent that there is potentially large sums of money to be made in the human spaceflight market. Tito was reported to have spent $20 million to travel to the International Space Station (Wall, 2011). Following Dennis Tito’s flight, there have been many companies looking to get a foothold and develop the civilian space travel industry. Between Tito’s flight in 2001 and 2011 the Virginia based company, Space Adventures, have sent seven people on eight orbital flights (Wall, 2011). This proved that Tito was not alone in his willingness to pay a large amount of money to experience space travel. Some initial hurdles that had to be navigated for private citizens to travel to space and the International Space Station were the other members of the International Space Station, notably NASA. A NASA press release from March 19, 2001 states, “NASA officials said at the time that they didn’t object in principle to the presence of a paying customer aboard the orbiting lab. They just didn’t think Tito’s training would be sufficient by April, which they said was a time of complex and crucial station operations.” (Wall, 2011). While this may have been a factor, the opposition to Tito’s space traveling exploit was predominately mitigating all possible negative outcomes for the International Space Station and any individuals in space. Tito being a 60-year-old man could also have played a part in wanting to not allow for any additional bad public relations regarding space travel.

            “On 23 December 2005, the FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), ‘Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants’” (FAA, 2006). The FAA created changes in parts 401,415,431,435, and 440 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations and created a new part 460 (FAA, 2006). These revisions and new part cover the requirements and regulations for governing crew and space flight participants. The newly created part 460 is supplemented by the regulations already in place such as part 431, which pertains to the use of reusable launch vehicle with a person on board. While the new “part 460 applies to anyone applying for or having a license or permit under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Chapter III, who conducts a flight with crew or space flight participants on board a vehicle with a human on board” (FAA, 2006). This regulation was created to begin the process of outlining what it would take to safely operate flights into space. While the regulations outline the requirements and the certification level needed by the companies and operators to fly into space. I think that this level of certification is not high enough. The FAA mandated that the pilot would need an FAA medical along with an instrument rating. While this is a must, due to the operation of an aircraft in class alpha airspace, it does not address the additional expertise it will require to safely operate a space bound aircraft. Additionally, it does provide some regulations that will protect the passengers and pilots of the aircraft. The majority of regulations on space travel are about protecting property and not on protecting the occupants inside. While it is important to protect the populace from any falling debris, it is also important to have more protection for the passengers and pilots of the aircraft than just signing a waiver.

            I believe space travel is heading towards becoming a very niche market with a possibly short lifespan. This is due to the similarities it has with the supersonic commercial travel market. While I admit the space travel is much sexier, it will also be much more expensive and be of service to a much smaller pool of potential customers unless there is a dramatic reduction in price per seat. In my opinion, within the next 15 years we will have a commercial space industry. At this time, I don’t believe there will be enough of a technological jump that would provide enough infrastructure to facilitate a large influx of people being taken to space, as well as, providing a price that will allow the majority of the general public to be able to afford commercial space travel. Until there is proper infrastructure either in space or on another planet, such as the moon, which will provide a place that is an inviting vacation destination, the commercial space travel industry will stay a one-time bucket list adventure that will lose its appeal overtime.

            To work in the space tourism industry as a pilot you must comply with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 460.5, crew qualifications and training. Some of the requirements found under 14 CFR 406.5 are that “each crew member must complete training on how to carry out his or her role on board or on the ground so that the vehicle will not harm the public” (FAA 2016). They must also know their role in emergency situations, abort scenarios, possess and carry an FAA pilot certificate with an instrument rating, and each crewmember with a safety-critical role must have and carry an FAA second class medical no more than 12 calendar months prior to the month of launch and reentry (FAA, 2016). While there are some additional requirements needed to operate as a pilot of a space bound aircraft under this regulation, I find that it is surprising at how the regulations are less restrictive in regards to not requiring an ATP, or ATP type certificate specified for space travel. Lastly, it is interesting that the regulation only requires a second-class medical while the airlines require a first class medical.

References

FAA. (2006, December 15). Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants; Final Rule. Retrieved from https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2006-12-15/pdf/E6-21193.pdf

FAA. (2016, March 11). ELECTRONIC CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. Retrieved from http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e9c1d95a2f56084125cd28e4c189c149&mc=true&node=se14.4.460_15&rgn=div8

Wall, M. (2011, April 27). First Space Tourist: How a U.S. Millionaire Bought a Ticket to Orbit. Retrieved from http://www.space.com/11492-space-tourism-pioneer-dennis-tito.html