SpaceX just Made History BUT FAA Bureaucracy...Starship in Big Trouble! REPLAY#8

SpaceX just Made History BUT FAA Bureaucracy...Starship in Big Trouble! REPLAY#8 ===
#spacex #space #greatspacex #starship
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SpaceX just Made History BUT FAA Bureaucracy...Starship in Big Trouble! REPLAY#8
Elon Musk voiced his frustration over the FAA’s delay of Starship Flight 5, stating, "We will never get humanity to Mars if this continues." Starship isn’t just another rocket—it’s a crucial step in space exploration and reflects the competitiveness of the U.S. in the industry. The delay has led to sharp criticism from Congress, with many questioning the FAA's process and its role in slowing down such vital missions. Is it time for the FAA to step aside?
Over three months have passed since Starship's Flight 4, and anticipation continues to build for Flight 5. However, the FAA has delayed this milestone until late November, frustrating SpaceX and those who see Starship as a critical component of the U.S.'s future in space exploration. As SpaceX pushes the boundaries of aerospace technology, this delay is a significant obstacle. The FAA’s role in the delay, particularly its cumbersome regulations, has drawn ire not only from SpaceX but also from Congress, leading to heightened tensions and calls for reform.
SpaceX just Made History BUT FAA Bureaucracy...Starship in Big Trouble! REPLAY#8
The root of the issue lies in the Part 450 regulations, which went into effect in March 2021. SpaceX and other commercial spaceflight companies have faced licensing delays due to this regulatory framework. In a September 10 hearing of the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee, several officials voiced their frustration with the FAA’s inefficiency. SpaceX’s Bill Gerstenmaier warned that the entire regulatory system “is at risk of collapse.” He described how the process has stifled progress, directly impacting companies like SpaceX that are driving innovation in space exploration.
Dave Cavossa, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, further criticized the system, saying, “The way it is being implemented today has caused severe licensing delays, confusion, and is jeopardizing our long-held leadership position.” Cavossa emphasized that the process is “taking years” and that companies are getting “stuck in an endless back-and-forth process.” These delays pose a real threat to the U.S.'s standing in the global space race, as other nations, particularly China, continue to make strides in their own space programs.
SpaceX just Made History BUT FAA Bureaucracy...Starship in Big Trouble! REPLAY#8
Pamela Meredith, chair of the space law practice group at KMA Zuckert LLC, echoed these sentiments, pointing out the "lack of certainty, lack of transparency, and significant delays" within the FAA's licensing regime. Even Rep. Brian Babin, chairman of the subcommittee, expressed his concerns, saying, “License processing under the new Part 450 process is moving at a snail’s pace.” This inefficiency is seen as a major roadblock to U.S. space ambitions, particularly with NASA’s goals to return to the Moon and eventually land on Mars.

[badoldtroll]

The reason companies go overseas. The regulations in the United States are getting ridiculous. Any FAA is ridiculous.

[chriskeller]

Congress has the power to change, and take control of FAA. No government agency should have the power/authority to make policy nor laws. That is Congress job. Congress has been negligent in performing their job.

[robertw.anderson]

Like most of the computers the FAA and VA use. The FAA is out-dated and should focus on updating air traffic control and making tarmac at airports safe for planes to taxi on. And leave space to an agency that is designed for a new space environment. This is not the 1960s. It's time to act like it.
We need a new department to regulate space. One that is run by engineers, scientists, and astronauts and pilots. NOT career bureaucrats who's only goal is increasing their budgets. Budgets that they grow by added people to deal with new regulation imposed by the FAA. Which should be recognized as a form of antitrust.

[Avor]

The FAA has problems everywhere, not just space. The government needs to fire everyone in the FAA and start over. This is my opinion as a pilot and experimental aircraft builder.

[cannotsay]

FAA needs to be restricted to clearing the air space from airplanes, drones, air bubbles, and get out of the space business...

[welchandsonfarm]

if you wish to fix the faa issue vote in November for Thrump

[robertjohnson]

it's the jackass stamp on the fourhead of one side of the isle

[mronollo]

Time to replace the FAA altogether. FAA should be confined to the commercial Aviation industry and should have no jurisdiction over the Space industry. A new space specific agency should be created in its place.

[ricchamen]

Thanks for a great show. Great info and interesting show. 1

[P-M-]

Who else things this is because Elon is backing President Trump?

[davidbird]

With regards to FAA "possible political interference", FAA decisions should be subject to the Competition Watchdog with regards to both national security measures and nominal competition restrictions. For instance the FAA regulations should be at their pace, & not adversely affect normal production or research and product competitive and safety advancements.

[NOM-X]

End it!. They have to to commercial airliners, start from scratch. They have the money, personal. GSE, etc. For now, Dragon should be the only craft from the us docking with the ISS. That mission could've turned out bad, but they still went for it knowing the risk. Cant do that shit. There are 5 Dragons (2 in process), and the ones on operation are constantly, and, successful. (knock on wood). If its not broken don't fix it."
Thanks for the episode.

[craiggbrown]

I think what we need in the US is our own government space oversight agency separate from the FAA so that we have a dedicated space launch safety administration. The FAA is so busy with everything aviation and space. Just like we split the Air Force from the space force…it’s that time.

[AI_MicroSolder]

All I can say is welcome to my life having to deal with the FAA. The worst liying company that's downfalls are right in front of everyone.

[davidgutting]

Adding regulations and additional bureaucracy and review will not speed up this process. The FAA needs to designate areas of the country as rocket development areas, exempt the environmental restrictions on most of the hazards, and levy a review report after the test and listing the items required to be corrected for the next launch. We have garbage dum-s and nuclear waste sites located for a reason, why is this so hard? The myth of Trying to figure out everything that might go wrong wastes time. Solving problems that are a fabrication of a fearful anxiety driven imagination bears nothing in common with the physics of the actual outcome. If you spend all your time trying to solve all the problems you can create, you will never get started. The FAA needs to designate sandbox areas and enforce personal safety and cleanup. Once you have a successful solution, then you take it to Florida and launch it.

[johnhewitt]

Maybe the approval process would be speeded up if the turtles birds etc. could be directly asked "are you adversely affected by Spacex operations?"!

[JamesBrisco-mmkc]

Yes it’s time to replace the FAA, there excretes is in aircraft and that’s where they need to stay, there should be a sepret office for space craft that does not involve the FAA

[lmartin]

What if Space X goes to China. How would that feel if we couldn't do it here because of red tape, but China gives Elon the go. 😮

[BillGorman]

I got the perfect answer for Elon but he'll never hear it because I don't have access.

[LisaDawn]

If Boeing opts out, do they have to pay back the money they were given?