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From: karn@faline.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: space news from Sept 7 AW&ST
Message-ID: <1494@faline.bellcore.com>
Date: Tue, 20-Oct-87 16:14:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: faline.1494
Posted: Tue Oct 20 16:14:26 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Oct-87 05:49:15 EDT
References: <8797@utzoo.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc
Lines: 28
Summary: Range safety should prevent major disasters
Xref: linus sci.space:3379 sci.space.shuttle:388

> There is still concern about liability coverage for private launches.  A
> nasty worst case would be a launch from the Cape going wild and hitting the
> Vertical Assembly Building while two shuttle orbiters are inside; damages
> could be ten BILLION dollars. 

I don't see this as being particularly credible if the ground rules for
commercial use of KSC or Cape Canaveral facilities continue to require
use of Air Force range safety facilities and personnel. The flight
components of the range safety system could be provided privately, but
they would have to be inspected and tested by the government prior to
launch.  As usual, the range safety limit criteria would be spelled out
in minute detail in advance of the launch, and the private launch
company would have have to agree not to hold the government liable if
the button is pushed because a launch violated them. In exchange the
government would agree to assume the risk to its own facilities; after
all, it would have "the last word".

Range safety has had an admirable record in protecting lives and
property on the ground. The chances of a launcher taking off and
destroying a building like the VAB seem awfully remote. Merritt Island
is a *big* place; the VAB is 3 miles from the Shuttle pads, and a lot
farther from the smaller pads down in CCAFS that would be used for
private launches. The only real issue is pad damage; a launcher blowing
up on or near its pad can do a lot of damage.  Since this sort of thing
is statistically rare, private liability insurance shouldn't be a major
problem.

Phil