Outside/In In Challenger's wake: The ethics of sending citizens to space
Jan 21, 2026
Ben Miller, a RAND economist studying space policy; Kim Bleier, a Concord resident who remembers Christa McAuliffe; and Daniel Ackerman, the episode reporter. They explore commercial spaceflight's rise, regulatory gaps around passenger safety, the economics driving private missions, ethical questions about who goes to space, and how past tragedies shape choices today.
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Christa McAuliffe's Local Celebrity And The Challenger Shock
- Christa McAuliffe became a national celebrity after being selected as the Teacher in Space, inspiring students in Concord, New Hampshire.
- Kim Bleier saved newspaper clippings and stopped after Challenger exploded live on TV at school, ending that chapter of memory keeping.
Private Citizens Are Now Regularly Going To Space
- Private spaceflight shifted from taboo to commercial within decades, with celebrities and billionaires now booking trips.
- The Fram 2 mission and Blue Origin flights show private funding and marketing have rapidly normalized citizen access to space.
Learning Period Leaves Passenger Safety Unregulated
- The 2004 Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act set the FAA as regulator but carved out passenger safety rules during a 'learning period'.
- Congress repeatedly extended that period, leaving passenger safety largely unregulated until review in 2028.