Policy

Senate Confirms Mike Whitaker as FAA Administrator

Image: NASA

The FAA finally has a permanent leader after an 18-month vacancy. 

The Senate voted 98-0 to approve the nomination of former FAA deputy Mike Whitaker to serve a five-year term as head of the agency, which has a hand in overseeing the commercial space industry.

Space responsibilities: The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation is responsible for multiple facets of the commercial space mission including:

  • Issuing launch and re-entry licenses to make sure the public is safe from commercial operations
  • Helping air and space operators share the airspace
  • Setting and implementing spaceport policy

Top to-dos: Whitaker is taking over during an important time for the agency as it figures out how to juggle its massive commercial air travel mission alongside its growing commercial space responsibilities. Some major focus areas for the agency include:

  • Congress passing a new FAA reauthorization before the current authorization expires on Dec. 31.
  • The potential expiration of the “learning period” for the commercial spaceflight industry (currently set for Jan. 1), which has prevented the agency from imposing many regulations on the industry since 2004
  • Even if the learning period is extended, space tourism companies told Congress last week that it’s time to start a transition period with the FAA to prepare for more regulation in the future.

SpaceX also slammed the FAA at the hearing for the delayed approval for Starship to fly again, and urged the agency to double its licensing staff to keep pace with rapid commercial space growth. 

Related Stories
EuropeInternationalPolicy

ESA Watch: Setting the Stage for November

This week, ESA member states declared that they will carry on with their ambitious space science and exploration plans—with or without the US.

Policy

Dems Worry Golden Dome Will Launch Arms Race

“If we’re going to put something up in the sky for $500 billion and it just starts an arms race and then it doesn’t work because they can get around it, then that’s a massive waste of taxpayer dollars.”

BusinessPolicy

Commercial Space Federation Launches Supply Chain Council

What do penguins and US space industry suppliers have in common? It’s safer for both to travel in packs. 

Policy

Trump Ditches Isaacman Amid Record NASA Cuts

“They always say [NASA budgets are] dead on arrival—this is extra dead.”