Big Government’s License to Kill Space Travel

Something strange is intercepting our trajectory into space. The obstacle isn’t space debris, old satellites, or meteors. Rather, it’s licensing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet granted a license for the launch of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship, and even the Fish and Wildlife Service is still evaluating whether to permit it. Licensing is thus delaying not only his rocket but also our interstellar progress.

Licensing is said to be essential for especially dangerous conduct — the behavior that’s so risky it can’t be permitted without prior government permission. Licensing, however, is familiar from local zoning and banking as well…

October 4, 2024

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Originally Published in National Review