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Bloomberg
US officials have agreed on an updated framework for investigating major accidents in the commercial space industry as human tourism and flights hauling hardware into orbit expand rapidly.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the independent agency that leads investigations into plane crashes, will conduct similar reviews for mishaps involving private sector rockets and space capsules, according to an agreement.
The NTSB will work in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for licensing commercial space activity, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said in an interview.
“We were able to come to an agreement that benefits safety, and certainly still allows innovation and allows the commercial space industry to grow,†Homendy said after NTSB and FAA signed the agreement at NASA’s Johnson Space Center near Houston.
While the NTSB has investigated some space-related accidents in the past under agreements signed in 2000 and 2004, the new memorandum formalises its authority for launches carrying people and codifies requirements for reporting mishaps.