Comments on: FAA space regulations

FAA space regulations

gunthersghost — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:39:42 -0800

Terrorists not allowed in space (the FAA would like to regulate commercial space flights)

By: null terminated

null terminated — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:44:08 -0800

How'bout we give them a one way ticket. Har! Really, what's the problem not letting terrorists into space?

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:46:36 -0800

Tell that to the Martians, who have intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, who regard this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely draw their plans against us. If that's not terrorism, what is?

By: jikel_morten

jikel_morten — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:48:26 -0800

Why do you hate the Milky Way?

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:52:38 -0800

Who cares? It's not like those little spaceplanes have much fuel. It sounds like a bunch of hateful over-reach and wankery to me.

By: spock

spock — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:53:38 -0800

If going to space is outlawed, only outlaws will be going to space (Hey! then we can mess with their computer's data so that they burn up on reentry)

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:54:22 -0800

okay, the Bush Administration has jumped the shark. If you consider that the money it would take to go to space would cost as much as what, 250 9/11 attacks, I say let 'em save up for this prong. (of course, using a Barrett rifle to knock a launching space vehicle would be a much cheaper, more spectacular kind of tactic)

By: gunthersghost

gunthersghost — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:57:18 -0800

I presume flying a space ship is more complicated than an airplane. But maybe 'Flying a spaceship for dummies" has been published and I just haven't seen it.

By: Kickstart70

Kickstart70 — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:00:34 -0800

I assume there is a missing word in the FPP: "American". I hope that the U.S. has not declared itself a world government in order to regulate all of space because, you know, space is really, really big and other nationalities might not like that.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:05:11 -0800

Yeah, but those are the "old" other nationalities.

By: spock

spock — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:29:41 -0800

Um. . . is this the same FAA that regulated U.S. commercial airspace on 9/11/2001??? I feel safer already.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:36:22 -0800

*sigh* BoingBoing and Slashdot discussed this in December. Of course the FAA isn't trying to regulate other countries' space industries (read: Britain, Russia, perhaps China). These are rules required to be promulgated by an act of Congress, which will apply to everyone under the jurisdiction of the FAA (which might actually include Virgin, due to certain dependencies). Ultimately the international regulation will have to be undertaken by the IATA and the ICAO, but they only act on proposals given to them by members (airlines and coutnries, respectively).

By: tweak

tweak — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:13:41 -0800

Really, what's the problem not letting terrorists into space? You really should read The Moon is A Harsh Mistress.

By: rolypolyman

rolypolyman — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:16:35 -0800

"In other news, Wal-Mart announced its decision to pull 2001: A Space Odyssey from its 6400 stores worldwide. Said a company spokesman, 'No one wants the terrorists to get ideas.'"

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:17:25 -0800

What exactly is the problem with letting terrorists in space?

By: tweak

tweak — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:21:13 -0800

odinsdream: but I repeat myself. The FAA is forward thinking, man.

By: Fat Guy

Fat Guy — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:43:26 -0800

If Sir Richard doesn't want to be under FAA jurisdiction, maybe he shouldn't launch from a spaceport in (the US state of) New Mexico.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 03:35:52 -0800

This month convicted paedophile Sydney Cook was blasted into space in a one man prison vessel, where he will spend the rest of his life alone in orbit. Unfortunately, an 8 year old boy was placed on board by mistake, and is now trapped in deep space with the monster. A spokeman said "This is absolutely the last thing we wanted to happen."

By: signal

signal — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 04:29:15 -0800

Where's Philip K. Dick when you need him?

By: spock

spock — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 05:34:40 -0800

The FAA is just trying to reverse-psych the terrorists into starting up a space program because they know it would become a money pit project leaving them no extra cash to buy petty things like plastic explosives and nails.

By: spock

spock — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 05:36:12 -0800

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 09:58:12 -0800

gunthersghost writes "I presume flying a space ship is more complicated than an airplane. But maybe 'Flying a spaceship for dummies" has been published and I just haven't seen it." If we're talking rocket the upward leg is pretty simple, it's the landing that can be tricky.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 10:20:01 -0800

That's okay. Terrorists always skip the part of the training program that teaches them how to land.