Funding FAA's Space Arm

The Federal Aviation Administration is not just about aircraft. Congress has also given the FAA the job of licensing private spacecraft and developing other general regulations to guide the growth of the new commercial space industry. The touchstone of FAA policy in this area is to demand maximum possible safety in the context of encouraging the development of an industry that is inherently risky.

A debate about the correct level of funding for FAA's space arm is currently underway in Congress. It focuses on the likely pace of development of commercial space. Some analysts within the industry, plus others outside of government, see the industry quickly reaching hundreds of flights per year. That would argue for beefing up FAA's space office starting now. Other analysts, however. including some in the Government Accounting Office, see much slower growth, and therefore argue less money for FAA early on would be sufficient.

Given the federal government's deficit and debt problems, many in Congress would prefer spending less on what tends to be seen as a peripheral issue in any case. Spending less might work, too, but if there is an accident in the early phase of this new industry after Congress has tried to save a few million as part of its response to a multi-trillion dollar problem of its own making, the company directly involved in the accident may not be seen as the only responsible party.