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AST/AVR turf war is over
The AST/AVR turf war is over. Patti Grace Smith and Nick Sabitini
have jointly published a Notice in the Federal Register, 68 FR 59977, http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=70818015893+0+0+0&WAISactio n=retrieve, that divides up the pie very evenly. Launch vehicles are AST, airplanes are AVR, and hybrid vehicles - those which share characteristics of launch vehicles and aircraft - are both. The dividing line is clear and unambiguous, is the same as what AST pre-announced at Space Access in April, and is trajectory dependent. What this means is that the same vehicle can be an experimental aircraft on Monday, a launch vehicle on Tuesday, and an experimental aircraft again on Wednesday. Which it is depends on how you fly it. If you fly it so it meets the definition of a suborbital rocket, it's a launch vehicle, and you need a launch license. If you fly it so it doesn't meet the definition, it's an experimental aircraft, and you need a pink slip. This is good news for pretty much everyone. Flight test paperwork is a whole lot easier, but when we need to start charging for flights, we can - we just have to get a launch license. This is WAAAY easier than the equivalent route for airplanes, which is type certification. AST and AVR did a really good job on this compromise. -R |
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