Dr. George C. Nield, the Deputy Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at the FAA, was the guest on this edition of The Space Show. Dr. Nield took us through the process of obtaining a license to launch a private suborbital vehicle to space. We discussed all aspects of the process, the role of the FAA, the AST, its relationship with NASA, Congress, and most important, with the businessmen and women building the rockets and the vehicles. I asked Dr. Nield about the AST reaction to Space Ship One and was told that they were as excited, thrilled, and supportive as all of us. Questions were asked Dr. Nield about the difference between a suborbital license and what may be expected when orbital RLVs come into being as well as passenger space tourist space planes. We talked about standards and requirements for piloting a suborbital vehicle such as Space Ship One, being part of the crew, and being a paying passenger. Dr. Nield kept our focus on one of the primary missions of the AST and that is to protect the safety of those in the area of the launch that are unaffiliated with the space and launch site companies. Dr. Nield was asked several questions about commercial space ports, their licensing requirements and especially the environmental requirements. We talked about inland ports, those on the coast flying out over the ocean and existing military missile ranges such as White Sands in New Mexico. He listed the existing licensed commercial space sports in the states at this time and was proud to add Mojave to the list as the first inland commercial spaceport receiving a license. Dr. Nield provided Space Show listeners with important information from what is probably the most supportive federal agency there is regarding low-cost space access by the private sector. We are most certain to invite Dr. Nield back as a guest and are most appreciative to him and his agency for bringing the story of the AST to Space Show listeners.
Guest
The Space Show
