Space News by Sandra Erwin — August 3, 2019
United Launch Alliance on July 19 posted on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website a detailed comment in support of the agency’s proposed revisions of commercial launch and re-entry rules. Shortly after the company’s comments went public, ULA CEO Tory Bruno tweeted: “FAA did a superb job increasing flexibility while maintaining public safety.â€
ULA, and its parent companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have stood virtually alone in their support of the FAA’s rules revision. In the past week, Northrop Grumman, Airlines for America, Alaska Aerospace, Astra Space and CDSE have aligned with ULA.
Commercial space launch players, meanwhile, continue to challenge the agency to make further changes, arguing that what the FAA has proposed amounts to a crushing blow to entrepreneurial companies that are trying to build cost-effective space transportation infrastructure.
In response to the commercial sector backlash, the FAA twice has extended the public comment period since it released a notice of proposed rulemaking April 15. The latest word from the FAA is that it will keep accepting comments until Aug. 19.
The regulatory battle over launch licensing, whatever its outcome, has huge implications. ULA is especially concerned about SpaceX and Blue Origin gaining a competitive edge if regulatory constraints are eased in ways that would allow commercial players to grow their business, lower their cost and push ULA into a corner.
More:
https://spacenews.com/ula-and-its-commercial-competitors-in-pitched-fight-over-launch-regulations/
