Briefs: Alan Bond lecture; UK spaceflight reg mystery

Re these two items from the UK, they both show a cluelessness that seems all to endemic among some there. I've been seeing that for years from here, and it was clear when I visited last June.

-- The technology is a "wow!" but the way NOT to put the UK in the vanguard of new space activities is Bond's/Reaction Engine's vehicle, which would require on the order of $14 billion and a decade before the investors start seeing a return.

-- There is no mystery about what Virgin wants to be able to fly from Lossemouth. They want an explicit framework and a clear regulatory authority to turn to. I.e., the equivalent of the CSLAA provisions in the US and the FAA/AST to administer them. In "theory" it may be possible to fly under present conditions, in practice it is likely incredibly awkward and uncertain to try to get all the "i"'s dotted and "t"'s crossed.

Posted by Charles Lurio at 11/09/09 19:42:48

I get what you mean Charles. They could end up in a position similar to what Armadillo was in recently. Theoretically with permission to fly, but some obscure regulation might actually prevent them from doing so.

Posted by Rick Boozer at 11/09/09 20:56:34

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