Discussion: Emerging Technology

For this last discussion, choose one of the two options below:
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Post a thread outlining your thoughts about malicious or hazardous UAS operations, and provide at least one real-world example of the situation you are describing. Then critically analyze the problem, and propose a rulemaking that might help eliminate it.
Commercial Space Travel
There are about a half dozen commercial space entrepreneurs globally today. Pick one of those companies, and then provide a short history of their company, outline their current projects, and describe their future plans for space travel. Describe the biggest obstacles that they will have to overcome to achieve their goals.
Your initial discussion post should be succinct (only about 200–300 words) and include references to your sources.
Overview
View from a porthole of space station with Earth in background. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.It seems like in the last few years, the unmanned aircraft industry has exploded. Everywhere we turn we hear news stories, both positive and negative, about unmanned vehicles.
On the positive side, unmanned vehicles are being used to improve many industries and services: real estate sales, insurance estimates, storm and fire damage assessments, package deliveries, law enforcement, farming, wildlife management, search and rescue, and even pizza delivery.
It’s not all good though; there are some negative aspects of unmanned vehicles: they can be a collision hazard to manned aircraft, they can
intrusively spy on people, and they can be a physical threat if outfitted with guns or bombs.
An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is really just that – a system. Three main parts make up the system: first, the vehicle itself, often called by different names like drone, remotely piloted vehicle (RPV), remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), remotely operated aircraft (ROA) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); second, the ground-based controller, or pilot, that remotely controls the vehicle; and third, the communications system connecting the two.
As a relatively new component of the National Airspace System, the UAS industry and the government have been working to implement
strategies to safely and seamlessly integrate this newest component. Some of the module’s resources will help you understand this fast-moving rulemaking. In this module, we are going to explore the regulatory aspects of unmanned vehicles and evaluate their impact on the air transportation system.
Also, in this module, we will study commercial space transportation. Commercial space travel started much like commercial air travel did – with the government taking the lead. The U.S. government began the air mail system, and then in 1925, after proving the concept, they turned it over to commercial carriers (albeit with strict regulations). Space travel has matured in the same manner. After the Russian launch of Sputnik in 1957, governments assumed the responsibility for space technology development. In the last decade, however, we have seen governments pass the baton to the commercial sector. The global space industry has had some growing pains, but they have prevailed, launching an average of about two spacecraft per week in 2018.
The FAA’s definition of space transportation includes the “movement of, or means of moving objects, such as satellites and vehicles carrying cargo, scientific payloads, or passengers, to, from, or in space.” Commercial space transportation is being carried out using both orbital and suborbital vehicles. As little as 30 years ago, there was no such thing as commercial space transportation, but this business has rapidly become a major industry, totaling $208 billion in economic activity in 2009.
The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is responsible for licensing and permitting various space activities, which currently are limited to the launching of cargo and scientific payloads. Passenger travel is in the works though, and don’t be surprised if you will soon be able to buy a ticket for a suborbital flight to the other side of the globe.
Module Objectives
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Evaluate the impact of unmanned aircraft in the air transportation system. (LO 5)
Describe the efforts to privatize space travel. (LO 5)
Critically analyze unfamiliar material in the area of air transportation. (LO 8)
Describe how countries apply SARPs to their own regulatory development. (LO 2)
Interpret the ecologic effect of aviation on the global environment. (LO7)
Analyze risk management processes applicable to air transportation. (LO 6)