NASA and Risk, Risk, Risk

The Rotary Club Ponte Vedra Beach was treated this past week to Thomas Napton and his vast knowledge of the past and future of the space program.

     To start with, NASA was incorporated in 1958 when it was  reincarnated from existing agencies.  During WWII the government co-opted national industries but then returned them to the private commercial/industrial world.  The infant space program was kept under government control though.  President Eisenhower set up NASA under a special government relationship with industry.  NASA administers but has no regulatory authority.  The  FAA regulates NASA. 

     Since the beginning over 3600 types of space vehicles have been launched with a lot of them not being successful.  In fact one scary fact is that if the Columbia disaster occurred 3 seconds later it would have hit New Orleans.  From the very beginning one major issue has been how to manage the risk involved in putting vehicles into space. In 126 launches no company was ever willing/able to underwrite the complete launch/landing.  The US Government has stood behind (indemnify) any injuries that have ever occurred and insurance coverage is broken up for every aspect of the complete launch to landing.

 Other interesting tidbits:

• Changes this past year:
  • Space shuttle program scuttled because of costs (500 million per launch).
  • Russian missile exploded putting serious doubts on their program.
  • China, Japan, India, and France can all launch. 

• Space program seems to be going backwards because no one has figured out a better way (cost effective) than putting a capsule on a rocket arian.

• Mayport named "Space Port Florida"
• So far there has been a peaceful co-existence in space, no “Star Wars”, although China blasted a satellite hinting at what could be coming our way.
• The future of the law in space is still to be defined. So far it is pretty much the mundane work of contracts, treaties, etc., but should humankind finally populate space, near and outer, all the aspects of the law existing and to be created, will come to play, and the biggest challenge is doing all of this in a peaceful way

The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach Sunset would like to Thank Mr. Napton and his lovely wife for visiting our club and talking to us on a very interesting subject.