Having spent some time doing licensing work for an orbital vehicle, the reason the reentries are uncontrolled is pretty stupid bureaucratic bullshit. Because of the way the licensing process works, its much easier to get an uncontrolled reentry license than a controlled reentry license. The FAA claims to prefer controlled reentry so the debris comes down in some uninhabited part of the ocean, but because they make it way easier to get a license for an uncontrolled reentry thats what everyone does. Being the FAA it takes forever to change anything, so maybe they’ll change the rules shortly after its too late to matter.
Ah, fascinating. That tracks, I was just realizing that about our local DOT this morning. Registration is enforced more strictly than inspections, so they can’t be said to be prioritizing safety!
Having spent some time doing licensing work for an orbital vehicle, the reason the reentries are uncontrolled is pretty stupid bureaucratic bullshit. Because of the way the licensing process works, its much easier to get an uncontrolled reentry license than a controlled reentry license. The FAA claims to prefer controlled reentry so the debris comes down in some uninhabited part of the ocean, but because they make it way easier to get a license for an uncontrolled reentry thats what everyone does. Being the FAA it takes forever to change anything, so maybe they’ll change the rules shortly after its too late to matter.
Ah, fascinating. That tracks, I was just realizing that about our local DOT this morning. Registration is enforced more strictly than inspections, so they can’t be said to be prioritizing safety!