President Donald Trump has built a way to reduce the rules of supervision and loosening the commercial space industry. Despite the need to pay attention to the innovation, this step will only benefit some of the richest people in the country.
August 13 President Trump signed an executive order, which referred to the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies to simplify the commercial space industry regulations. The “enabling competition in the commercial space industry” is aimed at further abolition so that the industry can expand rapidly.
The Order notes that based on the previous space exploration policy, the country may continue to improve technology development. “Ensuring that the United States operators can start efficiently, carry out missions in space, while US airspace remedies are very important for economic growth, national security, and to achieve federal space goals,” the order states.
However, this move can be useful for few people who are extremely rich and their former space exploration companies. By simplifying environmental reviews and launching permits, the order directly helps companies with frequent start -up schedules. The blue origin of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos could become the greatest benefactors of light restrictions.
The Executive Order notes that all available authorities will be directed to the “abolition or acceleration of the Transport Department’s environmental reviews and other obstacles to grant licenses and permits, issuing and repeated permits.” It is unclear how much government transport secretary will have if the regulations will be thrown to protect the environment during the start of space.
Regulations such as the Law on Coastal Zones and the National Environmental Policy Act require the evaluation of the environmental impact of space launches before issuing licenses or permits. Each legislation plays an important role in reducing the effect of launching rocket on air, water and wildlife.
These reviews create a balance between industrial growth and environmental protection, identifying potential damage to emissions, noise and land use near launch sites. The administration seems to show that reviews “interfere with the development of space port infrastructure”.
Dan Farber, a lawyer for environmental law at the University of California, says Trump’s administration may try to find a way to sift the established Environmental Protection Act. Farber stated that the executive order corresponds to the “general desire to eliminate environmental aspects and reviews”.