Florida Today reports that the Federal Aviation Administration would bring fifty jobs to Kennedy Space Center if Congress approves funding for a new commercial spaceflight center.
The plans depend on congressional approval of a proposal to spend $5 million in fiscal 2012 on the Commercial Spaceflight Technical Center, which would oversee commercial spaceflight.
"We need to work together to make sure we have consistent and compatible requirements," George Nield, FAA's associate administrator for commercial space transportation, told the House space subcommittee.
The article notes that Rep. Sandy Adams (R-FL), whose district includes KSC, called the proposal "troubling" saying, "I am very concerned about the budget."
According to the subcommittee's official press release, committee chair Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS) said:
"The Office of Commercial Space Transportation provides an essential public service, ensuring that commercial launches are undertaken with the highest level of safety. Their record of achievement is significant, licensing over 200 launches without any loss of life, serious injury, or notable property damage to the general public."
The subcommittee's web site does have some video archives of earlier meetings, so if this one comes online I'll post an update.
UPDATE May 6, 2011 10:40 AM EDT — The Space Politics web site has more details on the hearing, including more remarks by Rep. Adams. Blogger Jeff Foust wrote that Adams was "far more combative than her colleagues on the committee."
UPDATE May 9, 2011 8:30 PM EDT — Click here to watch the video of the May 5 meeting.
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