Elon Musk Podcast Can SpaceX Send People to Mars without NASA? - Elon Musk Podcast
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Nov 17, 2025 Explore the ambitious Starship system, SpaceX's groundbreaking two-stage launch vehicle. Delve into the critical human certification questions and the contrasts between past government oversight and today's commercial landscape. Learn how informed consent plays a role in space tourism and the implications for government astronauts. Uncover the potential for industry standards to shape safety norms for human flights. Discover how early flights of Starship could redefine certification and trust in space travel.
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Government-Owned Certification Built Accountability
- For 60 years governments both operated and certified human spacecraft, creating personal accountability in safety decisions.
- That dynamic changed only recently as commercial firms and NASA collaboration altered certification roles.
FAA Moratorium Leaves Occupant Safety Unregulated
- The FAA currently cannot create safety regulations for spacecraft occupants until at least 2028 due to a congressional moratorium.
- The FAA can only regulate public safety on the ground and airspace, not how companies protect passengers inside spacecraft.
Informed Consent Replaces Certification For Tourism
- Commercial passenger flights operate under an informed-consent model where passengers accept risks rather than being on a certified vehicle.
- That model works for tourism but fails to satisfy NASA or governments that must protect their personnel.