Space Bill all but dead

Hi ...

It seems the House-Senate conference committee on the Commercial Space
Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (HR 3752) has added wording that makes
it's passage unlikely. Even it's author, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Ca)
has decided to hold back the bill. The amended version adds the
phrase: "but the industry should be held to the highest standards of
safety when transporting humans." to the "space transportation is
inherently risky," line, making it extremely hard for any company to
meet the safety level of (say) commercial airlines at this stage in
the industry's development. XCOR's Greason said he feared such
language would put the "safety of the crew and the safety of the
passengers on the same footing as the safety of the uninvolved
public." 

So unless there's a way to remove the offending 15 words the entire
bill will likely die and have to be reintroduced after the election.

	http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6201543/

    Michael

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Michael Wallis   KF6SPF       (408) 396-9037        [email protected]

"And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up
 in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of
 it."           Philemon 1:6