57
votes
Accepted
Why isn't SpaceX's Starship "trial and error" development strategy an open source project?
There are many reasons. They include money, intellectual property, regulations, and Elon Musk.
Money. Building open source software is relatively inexpensive, sometimes ridiculously inexpensive. No ...
- 73.2k
41
votes
Did the FAA license the Ingenuity helicopter to fly on Mars?
The FAA is not responsible for every US vehicle as that other answer alluded to.
FAA licensing covers pilots, commercial aircraft, aircraft operators, and commercial spacecraft Earth launches and ...
- 431
38
votes
Accepted
Why do Space X starship launches need permission from the FAA?
Because it's required by law (51 USC Ch. 509: Commercial Space Launch Activities) and by FAA regulations (14 CFR Chapter III - Commercial Space Launch Activities, Federal Aviation Administration, ...
- 73.2k
27
votes
Why do Space X starship launches need permission from the FAA?
To expand a bit on David Hammen's answer, the reasons for the regulations requiring FAA permits for rocket launches are related to public safety (or sometimes the egos of bureaucrats, but mostly ...
- 1,639
23
votes
Accepted
Which regulatory agency (if any) is in charge of investigating civilian rocket anomalies?
FAA again. They license all commercial launches, and are responsible for investigating. The FAA has officially grounded New Shepard, pending review. They will also oversee the investigation.
...
- 121k
22
votes
Accepted
Did the FAA license the Ingenuity helicopter to fly on Mars?
No
According to the FAA itself, licensing is for private individuals and companies, and applies only to the launch and re-entry parts of the flight:
An FAA license is required for any launch or ...
- 47.7k
19
votes
What does it mean for a launcher to be 'nuclear-certified'?
Really what it means is "Category 3" certified, with an additional review of a self-destruct situation to prevent breaking the nuclear payload.
Category 3 is also what is required to launch humans, ...
- 121k
17
votes
Which regulatory agency (if any) is in charge of investigating civilian rocket anomalies?
NTSB and FAA share responsibility
You have great timing! Five days ago, FAA and NTSB signed an agreement on this exact issue. You can read the full text of the agreement here (PDF) and the NTSB's ...
- 705
13
votes
Accepted
How did Conrad let Bean drive Apollo 12? Did anyone get in trouble?
If such a thing happened, it would most likely have been during the approach and rendezvous of the LM ascent stage with the CM, as Conrad and Bean were returning from the lunar surface. The most ...
- 167k
11
votes
Is there such a thing as a "rocket license" in the US?
In the USA you must be at least 18 years old for the following, so that video may be incorrect.
For example HPR Level 1 Certification by the National Association of Rocketry or NAR provides ...
- 11.5k
10
votes
Accepted
Might ISRO's 2018-004 launch be at least a technical violation of the Outer Space Treaty by India?
Sorry for being a few weeks late to this, but hopefully I can shed some light on how to think about it.
The ISRO launch of these satellites is legally problematic in several ways.
First, and as ...
- 1,428
9
votes
Accepted
Current situation with CoCom regulations and GPS receivers for balloons and cubesats
There is a standard clause included in all GPS receiver manuals regarding COCOM Limits. I cannot find the source of this clause, but since it is worded exactly the same in all the manuals I could find,...
- 23.8k
9
votes
What is the legal status of waste rocket parts ending up in the ocean?
Are you interested in the liability for damage and contamination or the ownership? Either way there are holes you could drive a bus through.
Most importantly in what follows, please bear in mind ...
- 9,414
9
votes
Might ISRO's 2018-004 launch be at least a technical violation of the Outer Space Treaty by India?
The satellites were launched on a vehicle operated by the indian government, with (at least implicit) permission of India.
This is clearly not a violation of the Outer Space Treaty, it only means ...
- 1,172
9
votes
What regulations, agreements, or other forces can help mitigate "PrankSats"?
For your specific example, the answer is cost. Nobody is going to spend hundreds of millions (or even just 1% of that) just to prank a community of astronomers.
For other examples? What stops China ...
- 11.5k
8
votes
Why is Rocketlab working with a Federal Aviation Administration to investigate an early 2nd stage engine shutdown?
The Federal Aviation Administration is the United States' Federal Government organization responsible for every US vehicle that flies. The Electron flies, and it is launched by a US company, hence, it ...
- 18k
8
votes
Did the FAA license the Ingenuity helicopter to fly on Mars?
Out of jurisdiction
Per outer space treaty, Mars is not in the jurisdiction of any US Government Agency.
- 233
8
votes
If Country A's rocket hits an incorrectly declared satellite of Country B, which institution can arbitrate the dispute? Under which international law?
I'm going to assume here that both states are parties to the Liability Convention (see page 14 of that pdf) ("Convention"), which is likely since most spacefaring states are currently ...
- 1,428
7
votes
Accepted
Why does the NOAA require a permit to be issued to stream images of the earth?
Why does the NOAA require a permit to be issued to stream images of the earth?
It's not just streaming. It includes all mechanisms for taking images of the Earth from space and somehow having that ...
- 73.2k
6
votes
Regulation in space, debris and end of life considerations
The regulations and international guidelines for space debris were recently overhauled in 2018 after a long 20+ year lull. This is key to prevent any accidents in space as the number of low orbit ...
6
votes
If you launch a booster from international waters, who do you have to notify beforehand?
It seems the host country of the company requires a permit. This has been done by only one company that I'm aware of, Sea Launch. Sea Launch was licensed by the FCC, as it was managed by Boeing. If it'...
- 121k
6
votes
Accepted
Are SpaceBEEs actually hard to track?
I think the answer to this is basically no or at least not any harder than other 1U CubeSats. I base this answer on two lines of argument. Also your data above more or less proves what I am about to ...
- 1,700
6
votes
Accepted
What does it mean when a software is called open-source for US-release only?
Here is what the NASA Software FAQ says:
The release type determines who can have a NASA software code. If you meet the access criteria for the code (as defined below), NASA can transfer the ...
- 23.8k
6
votes
Accepted
What "regulatory purposes" would limit a launch test of a new vehicle to 50,000 feet?
Vector flew their test at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry site, which has permits from the FAA to fly to 50,000 feet on weekends without obtaining additional permits per launch. For early tests of ...
- 167k
6
votes
Why does the NOAA require a permit to be issued to stream images of the earth?
The National and Commercial Space Programs Act (NCSPA) says:
It is unlawful for any person who is subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United States, directly or through any subsidiary or ...
- 12.6k
6
votes
If Elon Musk wanted to bring back some Martian soil, would US permission be required?
Yes, and you've answered the question in your question! As you note, the FAA regulates launch and reentry for US-based operations. As part of this regulation, the FAA sends around applications to ...
- 1,428
5
votes
How does ITAR affect SpaceX's display of the Orbcomm first stage outside their headquarters?
ITAR regulations restrict the defense-related information you can share with non-U.S. persons. There is no distinction between the rules applicable to a government agency like NASA or private ...
- 336
5
votes
Who/What is the international authority to assign/refuse orbit to a satellite/space-craft?
To add to Deer Hunter's response:
The ITU manages the radio spectrum that satellites use, not their physical location.
There are many examples of satellites being owned by different organisations ...
- 9,414
5
votes
Accepted
What is "TFR" in the context of operating a marine radar on top of a "water tower" at a launch site?
It stands for Temporary Flight Restriction.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_flight_restriction
Presumably the TFR is in place for whatever SpaceX is doing and the radar will be ...
- 178k
5
votes
How did Conrad let Bean drive Apollo 12? Did anyone get in trouble?
Another candidate for Al Bean driving during the trip back is this line from day 9 of the mission.
211:18:45 Conrad: In case you're watching the DSKY, it's a little OJT [on the job training] for Al,...
- 14.6k
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