Safety Issues

Abstract

Safety standards are typically developed through a consensus process and, in connection with any activity, they are considered to represent the minimal level of risk that society will accept and tolerate. To determine which international standards are needed for space safety, we need first of all to build a common understanding about what are the safety risks posed by the various phases of a commercial space flight, and which ones are of international nature or interest. This section addresses the actual safety challenges that an ICAO-like organization for space will need to address.