Speech

11th Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference

George [Nield], thanks very much. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for that warm welcome.

It’s great to see such a wonderful conference. Eleven years and getting bigger every year, and I think it’s telling.

One look at the news and you know that space transportation is capturing imaginations like never before. And when you listen to people like Lori Garver, James Muncy, and the morning panelists talk about the future with such hope, you realize that we’ve only touched the surface.

But with all this focus on the promise of tomorrow, let’s not forget our past. That’s where we really see how far we’ve come.

I was reminded of that past recently with last week’s 50^th anniversary of Explorer 1, America’s answer to Sputnik.

Think back to January 31, 1958. Eisenhower is in the White House and Jack Kennedy’s in the Senate.

Only science fiction novels contemplate one small step for mankind. But in one of the earliest salvos in what would become a race for space — exactly four months after the Soviet Union stunned the world by launching the first artificial Earth satellite — America’s time had come.

On that day, Explorer had successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral. But flight controllers were waiting and waiting for a signal that it had reached orbit. Nothing. Not a peep.

It was only after the satellite had almost completely circled the globe that its signal finally received by alert amateur radio operators near L.A., to boot. That’s not what we have in mind with “mission control,” is it?

But America had done it. We’d successfully responded to the Soviet challenge. We’d officially joined the space race.

There’s an iconic image from that day. It was a picture of the three leaders of the mission. They stood together at a press conference, and hoisted a model of the satellite like a victor’s trophy.

The parallels between then and now are striking. Just as many elements came together to earn America a seat at the space table, so too will all of us have to come together for the next stage of space flight.

There were detours in those early years, just like in the barnstorming days of aviation. And there will most likely be detours ahead, but we’ve got to persevere. We can’t afford to let loose of the reins now.

Just look at Sea Launch. Within a year’s time, it went from mishap to successful launch.

Many of you out there are actually living the dreams of folks like me. In fact, when I was a kid, what’s going on now went by a different name. It was called “Maybe Someday.”

Well, today’s the day.

Space has become an industry with a new infusion of free enterprise. What only nations could do before, companies are doing now.

The investment of private money and private skill and private genius is democratizing space flight.

You won’t need a rank or a special diploma or a unique resume to go 62 miles up. You’ll just need a ticket. It won’t be cheap for awhile, but it will be possible.

The way I see it, space is the Big Magnet; the kind of rip-roaring science and adventure that brings people into the tent.

All of you here have a special role to play. The FAA aims to lead the way in developing new and effective corporate approaches to supporting this industry.

And I want to take this time to thank Patricia Grace Smith for over a decade of serving this industry. And George Nield, for stepping up to take over upon her retirement.

We’re focused on becoming a one-stop shop for commercial space — from licensing, to inspection, to pre-application advisories, to industry promotion.

And speaking on behalf of the FAA, I can tell you that our approach is to be a regulator, not a hurdle. To clear the way — not get in the way.

And the mandate remains to encourage and promote the U.S. commercial space transportation industry.

But, our focus has to start and end with safety. Safety does come first. There is no plan B for safety. Without it, there is no industry.

Safety is a shared responsibility, and the flawless safety record is truly something to be proud of.

We must continue to raise our commitment to safety. We must be working now to reduce the risk of damage to space vehicles, and the possibility of fatalities for the crew and passengers who will ride in them.

This is no small task. But just as together we have enabled the industry to grow, together we will build the safety standards that let it flourish.

This is do-able. It may sound like hyperbole to the cynics. But then again, any time a rocket is involved, hyperbole can’t be far behind.

I talked about the importance of the past a few minutes ago. Let’s cast our glance forward now and take a realistic look ten years from today to the commercial space industry of 2018.

What do I see? What do you see?

• Established, regular and proven launch opportunities for private commercial space flight.
• More multi-use, active spaceports around the country.
• A variety of private carriers and a busy world of new small businesses serving the needs of spaceports, space entrepreneurs and travelers.
• And probably industries that don’t even exist today.

That’s the way I see it. With advances in commercial space, we’re about to step through the door into a world of commerce and individual adventure that’s very different from the one we live in today.

Anyway you look at it, it’s going to be a heck of a ride.

And it will be made possible by many of the people in this room because of the work you’re doing now, because of the people you’ll recruit to the adventure, and because of the good that will come from the progress you make.

Let me leave you with one more lesson from the history books. In July of 1969, Michael Collins circled the moon while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface.

At one point, Collins radios back to Earth:  “Houston,  Apollo 11. I’ve got the world in my window.”

Well so do we. It’s the world of commercial space, and it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, so take advantage of it.

Thank you very much.