Comments on: A long-awaited big win for export control reform

By: NeilShipley

NeilShipley — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 01:58:02 +0000

I may be wrong but I suspect that the cost of U.S. launch vehicles was a significant factor in the demise of the business which is still the case today with the exception of SpaceX which is winning back that ‘lost’ business. SpaceX lv’s approx half the cost of ULA’s maybe even less. ITAR laws may have contributed but IMO they weren’t the significant factor so far as the lv’s business goes.

By: Fred Willett

Fred Willett — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:00:26 +0000

Twenty years or so ago the US had ALL of the commercial launch business. This past year it has launched exactly 1 commercial sat.
There is no doubt the original ITAR legislation was designed to protect America, but the results were disasterous for both launch and sat manufacturers.
Hopefully these changes to the ITAR laws can turn things around for the US launch industry.

By: JimNobles

JimNobles — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:21:58 +0000

I am encouraged. I honestly didn’t think legislation like this would pass anytime this soon.

Well done guys.

By: Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:29:48 +0000

Although we are awaiting the formality of a Presidential signature before releasing an official statement, let me just say we worked long and hard to get this passed.

I personally visited six Senate staff offices this past summer, and others followed with multiple contacts, communications, etc.

“Three men and a website”, a badge of honor for those who read it a year+ ago, Thank you! TPiS, which now number 2,000+ with volunteer research/policy analysts, engineering/scientist consultants, web production and graphics volunteers, writers and blogger volunteers, 1/2 dozen U.S. regional coordinators, and dozens of state coordinators, we say, ‘job well done’.

Security concerns were adressed by the House and agreed to by the Senate. Free market principles reign. A return of past U.S. high tech satellite market, a time when the U.S. controlled 85% of such market, now hovering near zero.

REAL U.S. job creation! Not fake government jobs reports.

Gary Anderson
National Coordinator and Director of Operations
TEA Party in Space
“Liberty in Space”

By: Tregonsee

Tregonsee — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:15:44 +0000

The implementation was badly flawed, but the administration at the time gave good reasons for actions being taken. There are even less grounds to trust this one to behave responsibly.

By: amightywind

amightywind — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:05:03 +0000

More discretion by the administration. More government picking winner and losers. More cronyism. More sleaze. Except this time the results will be shot back at us by the Russians and the Chinese.

By: A M Swallow

A M Swallow — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Get the committee to ask British firm Reaction Engines Limited (REL) why they have a ban on buying American parts for the Skylon. It may affect which items are removed from ITAR.