Spaceflight Research

‘Examining the Influence of Safety Management in the Personal Spaceflight Industry’

This research follows on from Andy Quinn’s Masters programme with City University, London whereby a dissertation on ‘Safety of the Space Participants’ was conducted with Virgin Galactic; this involved attending the monthly ‘Operations’ meetings and the inaugural Medical Workshop over a 14-month period.

The Ph.D research examines whether Safety Management can have an influence in a predominantly inexperienced ‘operator’ environment using immature spacecraft technology launching from ‘spaceports’ under immature regulatory boundaries. The research is well advanced and a gap analysis has identified many issues; the focus for the remainder of the PhD is working with industry to overcome the safety-related gaps.

The research will cover:

Regulation: Analysis of the FAA Licensing Legislation, Regulations and guidelines. Analysing the requirements for Sub-Orbital Aircraft (SoA) certification and operations in Europe.

Training: Analysing current spaceflight training and what the FAA say

Spaceports: Are these different from airports? Analysing the differences and seeing if safety can influence the design of spaceports or transition of airports into spaceports.

Operators: As the early operators have selected their spacecraft solutions, analysing what other safety mitigation could be available.

Course Director: Steve Bond, City University, London
External Supervisor:Professor Paul Maropoulous, University of Bath