13th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Despite the weather there's a good turnout for the FAA/AST conference; mostly out-of-towners who got in early.

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

FAA administrator Randy Babbit: comm'l space transportation is now "page 1 above the fold" thanks to new NASA plan. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Babbitt, I should note, is speaking via phone instead of in person given the weather. I suspect he won't be the only one. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Babbitt: I hope one day to be a passenger on a commercial space vehicle. (He means "spaceflight participant", of course.) #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Babbitt notes he is close friends with NASA administrator Bolden, plans to work w/him on variety of issues linked to comm'l space. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

NSSO director Joe Rouge (also by phone): need to take a broader view in fed gov't on space, including military, civil, and comm'l. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Rouge: interest in ORS driven by fact we're "essentially 1 launch failure away" from gap in any existing milspace system. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Rouge: because of budget changes the scope of his org (Nat'l Security Space Office, NSSO) will be decreased. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Rouge: "pleasantly surprised" how technologically advanced space entrepreneurs are. State of art not necessarily USG programs. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Rouge says there is interest in using comm'l suborbital vehicles under development now for military missions. (1/2) #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

However, no funding/resources identified for them yet, but may change as vehicles develop. (2/2) #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

.@kdavidian notes that there are ~100 people at conference, surprisingly big given the weather. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

NASA dep admin Lori Garver is filling in for Charlie Bolden tomorrow morning at #astconf; Bolden is stuck in Houston, apparently.

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

At the #astconf "Investment in Innovation" panel. Only 2 of 5 physically here; others are calling in (if the phone works).

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Dave Masten (only panelist besides chair here in person) notes that his company has in 6 yrs spent less than $2M. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Masten: "A lot of people were very surprised we were able to pull it off" [Lunar Lander Challenge win] "including myself." #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Andrew Nelson, XCOR: "very close" to a "Netscape moment" in entrepreneurial space biz; SpaceX most likely company to trigger it. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Larry Williams, SpaceX: company now at 897 employees, including 728 in Calif, 109 in Texas, and 46 at Cape Canaveral. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Williams: a myth that SpaceX solely supported by Elon Musk. He has not invested into the company since 2007. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Williams: "bear in mind that not everything is riding on the first flight" of the Falcon 9. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Williams: "a lot of customer interest" in Falcon 9 Heavy variant with LH2 upper stage; could fly as soon as 2012, he claims. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Tim Pickens on why he started Orion Propulsion: existing companies in biz trapped in Cold War cost models. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

Despite blizzard DOT Sec Ray LaHood has made it to #astconf to give luncheon speech.

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

LaHood: setting our sights on going back to the Moon not only way to stimulate growth of space industry. #astconf

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust

LaHood reiterates safety is #1 priority for DOT and FAA, wants to work with NASA and others on safety stds for comm'l human s/c #astconf