Guest: Rand Simberg. Topics: Rand's new book release, "Safe Is Not An Option," human spaceflight potential regulation. Please direct all comments/questions regarding Space Show programs/guest(s) to the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments & questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright & are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm. For those of you interested in the opportunity to submit feedback on the NRC congressionally mandated Human Spaceflight Study, please go to www.nationalacademies.org/humanspaceflight. Please remember that your Amazon Purchases Can Help Support The Space Show/OGLF (http://www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm). We welcomed Rand Simberg back to the program for this 1 hour 47 minute discussion regarding his about to be released book, "Safe is Not An Option."(http://safeisnotanoption.com). Check out the book summary: http://safeisnotanoption.com/book-summary. During our first hour, Rand explained the production challenges he has had with the book, the name change from last fall, & delays. He compared similarities with a book printing production run to the launch/flight rate. With both he said one needs to get the rate way up there for economies of scale. For the balance of our discussion, we talked about human spaceflight risk taking, the regulatory environment of today, & potential risks to this regulatory environment down the road after 2015. Rand supports individual choice & believes that regulation regarding flight safety would be detrimental to this developing industry. The subtitle of the book makes Rand's case: "Overcoming The Futile Obsession With Getting Everyone Back Alive That Is Killing Our Expansion Into Space." Jim emailed to ask Rand to compare the risk taken by Virgin & XCOR flight participants with risky terrestrial ventures. Rand suggested this would depend on the informed consent documents required under current FAA regulations. Trent asked about one way trips to Mars & Mars One. This brought up the discussion of space ethics & the Mars One position of pregnancy & childbirth as an ethical issue, not a personal choice issue as is the decision to do a one way trip to Mars. Rand stressed that his book has to do with people taking their own risk, not the government, regulators, or policy makers dictating risk taking. In the second segment, we fielded several questions from Curt on risk taking & Congress, plus he asked Rand about the nomad gene. Another listener emailed in a question focused on the role of the media in helping to make space important beyond the space community. Another listener wanted to know if Rand could see a day where to avoid government regulation, private human spaceflight would take place outside the United States. I asked Rand about feedback he has received regarding his book & thesis, his interest in a Washington, DC media event upon the book's release, selling the book at the upcoming NewSpace 2013 Conference, & if in his research, he came across papers, books, or other works advocating similar positions to his. During the entire discussion, Rand repeated his understanding that space is not important to the policy makers. Please post your comments/questions on The Space Show blog above. Rand can be reached through his own blog on the About page at Transterrestrial Musings at www.transterrestrial.com.
Guest
The Space Show
