Sunday 25 August 2013

California lawmakers encourage space travel


As several new private ventures to take people on trips to space come closer to becoming reality, California lawmakers are racing other states to woo the new space companies with cushy incentives.

They are debating a bill now in Sacramento that would insulate manufacturers of spaceships and parts suppliers from liability should travelers get injured or killed on a voyage, except in cases such as gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Last year, the state enacted a law that shields space tourism companies such as Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic from similar lawsuits.

"We're still in the fledgling part of space flight and space travel, and we need people to be able to take a risk," said California Republican Sen. Steve Knight, who introduced both state bills.

Several other states -- including Texas, Florida, Virginia, and New Mexico -- have passed similar laws, hoping to lure newcomers to the more than $200 billion commercial space flight industry.

California's latest bill faces opposition from several lawmakers who say the state should not relax its standards since tourists should expect the ships they use to ascend to the heavens are safe. But space tourism companies say the protection is necessary if the state wants to attract and retain the industry's business.

"Someday, something is going to crash and burn," said Kathleen Allen, a professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California who researches and advises new space companies. "The question is: Are we going to be able to say that's a price we pay to stretch and explore and go beyond our current limits?"

Edwin Sahakian dreamed of flying in space since he watched Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon almost 45 years ago. Sahakian, 50, a trucking company owner from Glendale, Calif., is one of more than 600 people who have collectively paid about $75 million to embark on a trip in space with Virgin Galactic.

Leaving the planet is worth the risk, he said. Without incentives like limiting the ability of customers and family members to sue, he said the opportunity would never be open to him. "I'm not under the impression that it's as safe as flying on an airliner or anything remotely like that," he said. "But I do feel like it's the safest way to go to space right now." READ MORE

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