FAA space regulations
January 8, 2006 7:39 PM   Subscribe

Terrorists not allowed in space (the FAA would like to regulate commercial space flights)
posted by gunthersghost (21 comments total)
 
How'bout we give them a one way ticket. Har!

Really, what's the problem not letting terrorists into space?
posted by null terminated at 7:44 PM on January 8, 2006


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?
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:46 PM on January 8, 2006


Why do you hate the Milky Way?
posted by jikel_morten at 7:48 PM on January 8, 2006


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.
posted by delmoi at 7:52 PM on January 8, 2006


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)
posted by spock at 7:53 PM on January 8, 2006


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)
posted by Busithoth at 7:54 PM on January 8, 2006


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.
posted by gunthersghost at 7:57 PM on January 8, 2006


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.
posted by Kickstart70 at 8:00 PM on January 8, 2006


Yeah, but those are the "old" other nationalities.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:05 PM on January 8, 2006


Um. . . is this the same FAA that regulated U.S. commercial airspace on 9/11/2001??? I feel safer already.
posted by spock at 8:29 PM on January 8, 2006


*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).
posted by dhartung at 8:36 PM on January 8, 2006


Really, what's the problem not letting terrorists into space?

You really should read The Moon is A Harsh Mistress.
posted by tweak at 10:13 PM on January 8, 2006


"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.'"
posted by rolypolyman at 10:16 PM on January 8, 2006


odinsdream: but I repeat myself. The FAA is forward thinking, man.
posted by tweak at 10:21 PM on January 8, 2006


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.
posted by Fat Guy at 12:43 AM on January 9, 2006


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."
posted by fire&wings at 3:35 AM on January 9, 2006


Where's Philip K. Dick when you need him?
posted by signal at 4:29 AM on January 9, 2006


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.
posted by spock at 5:34 AM on January 9, 2006



posted by spock at 5:36 AM on January 9, 2006


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.
posted by Mitheral at 9:58 AM on January 9, 2006


That's okay. Terrorists always skip the part of the training program that teaches them how to land.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:20 AM on January 9, 2006


« Older Teju Cole blogs from Nigeria   |   A million little peices of BS. Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments