private space exploration legal

it's old news by now, but i just wanted to say i'm excited that private space exploration is finally legal. earlier i whined that legislation was stifling private space exploration. i read fantastic news that a similar bill has now passed ordering the faa to issue licenses for private travel. an interesting (and surprising) element of the bill:

The final version allows the Federal Aviation Administration to begin issuing regulations to protect the safety of passengers and crew only eight years after the bill becomes law. Before then, the agency may restrict design features or operating practices only if they've resulted in a serious or fatal injury to passengers or crew, or caused an unsafe unplanned event.

it's impossible to foresee all the safety needs of something that hasn't been created, but eight years seems like a long time to allow the free market to take care of safety procedures that haven't arisen from injury or death (yet). i'm no legal historian or scholar, but this surprises me. furthermore, i wonder why regulators will feel the need to restrict design features that have not resulted in death, injury, or an "unsafe unplanned event" even after the eight year moratorium is up...?

Labels: political