Pointing the way to the future

Late last month, we witnessed two high-profile commercial space accidents, with one resulting in a tragic loss of life. In the brief window of time between the Oct. 31 crash of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo and the official findings from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, media headlines and critics prematurely predicted everything from the cause of the accident to the demise of the entire commercial space industry. Some of the loudest, most premature voices were dangerously close to slander, and even more recklessly, others extrapolated those opinions to an entire industry.

This is not the first tragic accident in commercial space, and unfortunately this may not be the last. The current commercial space industry is predicated upon the same core innovative principles as the now-behemoth industries of ships, trains, automobiles and airplanes before it. At their very best, these companies are unlocking the next frontier for America, opening up orbital and suborbital spaceflight to democratize space and expand Earth's economic sphere. At their worst, they're pioneers, feeling fully the pain and loss of each shortcoming on that long, destined road.

Whether the fruits of these pursuits are worthy of the inherent risk will never be a question answered by the pundits. These existential questions belong only to brave men like Michael Alsbury and Peter Siebold, the test pilots who flew SpaceShipTwo, and the men and women who wake up every morning to push the technological envelope further. It will be their brave colleagues across an entire resolute industry who ensure that tragic accidents are not in vain, but rather in pursuit of a dream and vision that becomes the reality of a future generation.

The prediction of the end to an entire industry - an industry with numerous revenue-generating companies, tens of thousands of high-tech jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments - is irrational. Thousands of people are dedicating their lives to these pursuits for humanity, which range from atmospheric, suborbital, orbital and ancillary support systems on the ground. The beauty of the commercial spaceflight industry lies in its diversity.

There are two things we truly know for sure. The first is that the commercial space industry is here to stay - to continue innovating, improving and changing the definition of what's possible for humanity. Second, in this early stage, spaceflight comes with some risk. However, this is why we have test flights. Ultimately, test flights reduce the probabilities for anomalies in future operations.

The Federal Aviation Authority's Office of Commercial Space Transportation is tasked to license and permit launches for the commercial space sector. Because of the agency's due diligence, the public was kept out of harm's way during these early test flights. The FAA has demonstrated an open-minded stance that allows for innovation but also upholds current regulations. The progressive approach to commercial spaceflight simultaneously protects the public and enables heroes to push the spaceflight envelope.

Per aspera ad astra (Though hardships to the stars), but ad astra (to the stars) nonetheless.

Eric Stallmer is the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.