Posted on 12/22/2007 2:13:48 PM PST by BenLurkin
The Mojave Air and Space Port received an amendment to its spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, averting a possible loss of the license. "This came as a pleasant surprise," General Manager Stu Witt told the East Kern Airport District directors during a special meeting Thursday. The district governs the Mojave Air and Space Port.
Airport officials still need to analyze the document to determine the full effect on operations at the nation's first inland spaceport.
"Some of the terms and conditions have far-reaching operational implications and require mathematical analysis," Witt said in an e-mail to reporters. "We are pleased to have something to review which is in the form of a license provision."
Copies of the amendment have been distributed to the airport's tenants for their review and comments.
"Absolutely, it's good news," he said.
The FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation informed airport officials in November of its intention to suspend or revoke the space launch site operator's license Dec. 31.
At issue were questions regarding the facility's plans for safely storing and handling the energetic chemicals used by rocket companies.
Two explosive accidents at the airport this summer, one fatal, increased regulatory scrutiny on the Mojave facility.
Since that time, the airport and its procedures have been studied by multiple outside agencies, as well as in investigations by the airport itself and the tenants involved.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Space ping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.