Gives FAA Authority To Regulate It

In the wake of SpaceShipOne's breakthrough accomplishments, The US House of Representatives Saturday okayed a bill that facilitates commercial space flight.

The final vote was 269-120, taken only after a raucous debate over how much protection the law should provide commercial space passengers.

"After being informed of the risks, people can and should be able to decide to buy a ticket and achieve their lifelong dream of flying into space even though they know that it is a risky proposition," said Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA).

But even after the vote, some Democrats in the House -- even some considered very good friends of aviation -- weren't satisfied with the safety measures passed in the bill.

I don't want to see people dead from a space experiment, and then the federal government comes in to regulate," said Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's senior Democrat.

But many in the fledgling commercial space industry had fought long and hard to get the measure passed as is. Not long ago, former shuttle astronaut Rick Searfoss, now working with Peter Diamandis's Zero-G, told ANN that some congressmen were trying to gut the commercial space bill and would make it almost impossible for companies like Virgin Galactic to operate if they had their way. Rep. Rohrbacher agreed with that sentiment.

That kind of regulation, he said, would "strangle this industry and drive these entrepreneurs offshore."

FMI: www.astronautspeaker.com