Episode 138: 3-2-1 Launch to Safety

As launches to space become more frequent and private spaceports are planned across the globe, how do launchers and regulators work to ensure both range safety and public safety? What are competing authorizing bodies in vastly different environments like US government-owned complexes versus Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch range in Mahia, New Zealand? Responsive launch is innovative but at what risk to safety? To answer these questions, Aerospace’s Colleen Stover talks to experts Robert Unverzagt, Principal Director of Civil & Commercial Launch Projects at The Aerospace Corporation and Nick Pearson, Rocket Lab’s Manager of Safety & Regulatory Operations.

This episode is part of the Center for Space Policy and Strategy's series on “Space Safety Through a Global Lens”. The series covers a range of foundational topics on issues related to space safety from an international perspective, including:  

• How Stuff Works: Space Weather 
• What Is Space Safety?  
• Science and Cooperation Against Debris 
• Europe Eyes Sustainable Space 
• The In-Space Rescue Gap 
• 3-2-1 Launch to Safety 

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