page 1 commercial space transportation advisory committee (comstac) may 18, 2007 brett alexander...
TRANSCRIPT
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Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee
(COMSTAC)(COMSTAC)
May 18, 2007May 18, 2007
Brett Alexander John GedmarkBrett Alexander John Gedmark President Executive DirectorPresident Executive Director
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Enabling Personal Spaceflight
The Personal Spaceflight Federation is the industry The Personal Spaceflight Federation is the industry association of leading businesses and organizations working association of leading businesses and organizations working to make commercial human spaceflight a reality.to make commercial human spaceflight a reality.
Our mission:Our mission: Promote the development of commercial human spaceflight
Pursue ever higher levels of safety
Share best practices and expertise throughout the industry
About the PSF:About the PSF: Non-profit organization
Based in Washington, DC
CEO-level board of directors
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Commercial Human Spaceflight
What is commercial human spaceflight?What is commercial human spaceflight? Systems designed for passengers
Developed by the private sector
Using predominantly private funds
Serving multiple markets, including government needs
Two realms of activityTwo realms of activity Suborbital – short flights above atmosphere, providing 3-5 minutes of
weightlessness
Adventure travel, scientific and industrial research, and astronaut training
Orbital – reaching orbit around Earth, providing hours or days of weightlessness
Adventure travel, scientific and industrial research, manufacturing, Space Station servicing
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PSF Membership
Members include Members include developers and operators developers and operators of:of:
Spaceships
Spaceports
Orbital spaceflight facilities
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Member Activities
Suborbital systemsSuborbital systems Building upon success of SpaceShipOne and the Ansari X PRIZE Systems under development Piloted flight testing to begin in next couple years First commercial passenger flights possible thereafter
Orbital systemsOrbital systems Development of spaceships under way
NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) investments
Orbital habitats under developmentBigelow Aerospace testbed in orbit, second to launch in next couple months
First commercial orbital passenger launches possible early next decade
SpaceportsSpaceports Commercial spaceports licensed in Mojave, California and Oklahoma State-sponsored spaceports under development in New Mexico, other
states
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Recent Member Activities
AirLaunch LLC – AirLaunch LLC – Successful full duration 2nd stage engine firingSuccessful full duration 2nd stage engine firing
Armadillo Aerospace – Armadillo Aerospace – Air Force contract, record hover timeAir Force contract, record hover time
Bigelow Aerospace – Bigelow Aerospace – Announcement of detailed business planAnnouncement of detailed business plan
Blue Origin – Blue Origin – Successful test flightSuccessful test flight
SpaceX – SpaceX – Continued progress with DemoFlight 2Continued progress with DemoFlight 2
Space Adventures – Space Adventures – Successful flight of Charles Simonyi to ISSSuccessful flight of Charles Simonyi to ISS
Spaceport America – Spaceport America – First launch into space from facilityFirst launch into space from facility
XCOR – XCOR – Air Force RLV design contract, engine firingsAir Force RLV design contract, engine firings
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Focus on Safety
Safety is fundamental Safety is fundamental Foundation upon which business depends
Goal is industry safety standards to perpetuate Goal is industry safety standards to perpetuate best practicesbest practices
Passenger training and medical
Operations
Maintenance
Manufacture
Spaceports
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Participant Waiver and Release of Claims
OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE Provide measure of liability protection
What needs to be accomplished:What needs to be accomplished: Draft standard waiver and release of claims – to be signed by
participant Include: general liability (“slip and fall”), training, and spaceflight
Account for differing state laws and court histories
Coordinate with insurance markets
Pursue adoption of state legislation limiting liabilityEnacted in Virginia in April
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Virginia Spaceflight Liability and Immunity Act
• Adopted into law on April 4, 2007Adopted into law on April 4, 2007
• ProvisionsProvisions Enshrines into law enforceability of liability waivers
Based on similar laws for adventure sports
Ties directly to federal “fly at your own risk” regime and regulations
Designed to protect entire supply chain
• Federation working to spread to other statesFederation working to spread to other states Working with Officials in California, Oklahoma, and New Mexico
Planning to engage Texas, Florida
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Contact information
Bretton AlexanderBretton AlexanderPresidentPresident
703-627-1692703-627-1692
[email protected]@personalspaceflight.org
John GedmarkJohn GedmarkExecutive DirectorExecutive Director
310-889-4409310-889-4409
[email protected]@personalspaceflight.org
Personal Spaceflight FederationPersonal Spaceflight Federation
www.personalspaceflight.orgwww.personalspaceflight.org
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 4002011 Crystal Drive, Suite 400 PO Box 28041PO Box 28041
Arlington, VA 22202Arlington, VA 22202 Washington, DC Washington, DC 2003820038