I'm at the Space Frontier Conference, with computer today. George Nield of the FAA is about to speak about the current state of launch regulations.

Here goes...

Happy to be here with people so dedicated to affordable access to space. Thinks that this is a subject whose time has come. At a key transition point now between way things were done in the past and what can be accomplished in the future.

"Our world is on the verge of a truly historic breakthrough--cheap access to space."

On the verge--a time and a place where public spirit and public policy are coming together to make it possible for public space travel.

Talking about the thousands of people who have already signed up for suborbital flights. Notes events of just the last month--Greg Olsen flying to space on his own dime, the formation of the rocket racing league, the X-Prize Cup event, the Chinese taikonaut launch, the FAA International Safety Forum with a panel on private spaceflight, moderated by Bob Walker, with panelists Dennis Tito, Elon Musk of SpaceX, Will Whitehorn of Virgin Galactic, astronaut Hoot Gibson, etc. demonstrating that people are taking this seriously.

Encouraged by the formation of so many entrepreneurial companies, specifically Virgin Galactic's and Scaled Composites "Spaceship Company." Pointing out that new services initially have high prices, but that price comes down eventually (uses early aviation as an example). Lauding Bigelow's new space prize. Entrepreneurial spirit a key component.

Another key component is growing support in the federal government. Citing Aldridge Report that commercial activities should be a key component of the Vision for Space Exploration. New transportation policy from December 2004: "Government must capitalize on private sector," "Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation must encourage commercial space activities, including commercial human spaceflight." Also citing Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act from last year. FAA must have final rules in place by June, 2006.

What comes next? Emphasis on safety. All previous licensed launches have resulted in no casualties, but they were all expendable. Reusables pose new challenge, but emphasis on safety will continue. Patti Grace Smith noted recently that private human spaceflight will encourage and stimulate interest in spaceflight in general. People increasingly will know people who have flown into space, and will start to realize that one doesn't have to be an astronaut, waiting for NASA to select you, to do so--will be able to fly on FAA-licensed private vehicles. Hoping that many of us will get to fly. "FAA plans to take us beyond the verge."

End of talk. Questions now.

During speech, he said that people at the conference had criticized the president's vision the day before. Along the lines of Michael Mealing, I pointed out that we weren't criticizing the vision, but rather NASA's proposed implementation of it.

In response to a question about concern of overreaction to an accident, he says that people die in aviation accidents every year, but that the FAA doesn't shut down the industry, or people stop flying. Primary focus will remain on safety to uninvolved public, not passengers. Congress and FAA recognize that people are flying at their own risk.

There's a break now. Upcoming is a two-hour panel on the role of government in opening up space, which should be interesting.