Broadcast 785 (Special Edition)

Dr. George C. Nield of the AST office was the guest for this Space Show program. We began the interview with Dr. Nield giving us an update on new developments within AST and the industry since the last time he was on the show. His report was positive and upbeat, make sure you listen to it. George also reviewed the mission of AST as mandated by congress. AST has the job of making sure there is public safety for the uninvolved public on the ground and also to license and promote space transportation. Listeners asked several questions about when its necessary to apply for and receive a launch license. Examples were cited with the UP Aerospace launch, Space X in the South Pacific, and Sea Launch. We also talked about the AST role with spaceports. During this extended conversation, we talked about spaceports in other countries, the competition among spaceport development programs in the United States, and potential conflicts of interest in spaceport approvals with local, state, and other agencies. Listeners asked questions about potential rocket exhaust damage through all layers of the atmosphere and into space and wondered if AST had jurisdiction on environmental issues which may apply in those scenarios. Questions were even asked about licensing launch and landing activities on the Moon and the extreme sport jumping with reentry of a person back to Earth, assuming such a sport can be safely developed. Listeners asked about the possibility of AST regulating future on orbit or lunar businesses. You will definitely want to hear what George has to say about this potential. We talked some politics and did some crystal ball gazing to 2008 and the possible political changes in the country and their impact on AST. Again, you will want to hear what Dr. Nield has to say about the types of changes and AST. This is a comprehensive discussion with Dr. George Nield about AST, its duties, obligations, space flight participants, even futuristic activities such as Point A to Point B space transportation. If you are interested in learning more about the AST or if you are planning to go through the AST process with your product, visit their website at www.ast.faa.gov. You can call Dr. Nield at the AST office at (202) 267-7793. If you have comments or questions for Dr. Nield, you can send them in care of me at drspace@thespaceshow.com or directly to George at George.Nield@faa.gov.