RUTAN: NASA MOON RETURN PLANS ARE `STUPID'.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan called NASA's new moon program ``stupid'' and said the Federal Aviation Administration is creating a stifling regulatory environment for private spacecraft.

Speaking at the International Space Development Conference on Thursday, the aerospace maverick - who for decades has produced unconventional aircraft out of his Mojave plant - expressed optimism for affordable space flight. But he criticized NASA for what he said is its failure to strive for the breakthroughs necessary to make that happen.

Rutan said NASA is rehashing existing technology to achieve its goal of sending astronauts back to the moon by 2020.

``That program makes absolutely no sense,'' Rutan said, speaking at the conference's opening-day luncheon in a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. ``They are forcing that program to be done with technology we know already works. They are not creating an environment for breakthroughs to occur.''

Rutan said he talked with NASA Administrator Mike Griffin about the moon effort. He said Griffin told him that if Rutan were in his position, he would do things the same way.

Rutan said Griffin is right, with one exception: ``I would have held a big press conference at the very beginning, invited all the aerospace media, and I would have said: `This is stupid' and turned around and go back to my office and go back to work.''

NASA officials could not immediately be located for comment after Rutan's speech.

Without major technological breakthroughs the general public will not be able to go into Earth orbit and on to the moon affordably, Rutan said.

``I do want to go to the moon in my lifetime,'' Rutan said. ``I would like to see my grandchildren go to the more interesting moons of Saturn and Jupiter. Our key is going to be capitalizing on programs with the kinds of risks the Apollo guys did take.''

Rutan also challenged the Federal Aviation Administration policy toward private spaceflight, which is geared toward protecting the uninvolved public instead of the paying passengers and crew.

That approach threatens the viability of the new industry, Rutan said.

``We have superprotection for those who are at a tiny risk, but no protection for those who buy a ticket and who are at risk,'' Rutan said. ``Those who will die will be the ones we know are at risk.''

The FAA needs to identify and encourage safety breakthroughs and require private industry to use those breakthroughs, Rutan said.

Rutan said spaceships that have aircraft-like operations should be regulated like airplanes.

Among the people in the audience was Patricia Grace Smith, the FAA's associate administrator for commercial space transportation.

In an interview after Rutan's speech, Smith said the policy of protecting the uninvolved public is mandated by Congress.

``Our policy is: We want to enable the industry,'' Smith said. ``We don't want to be a hindrance. So far we haven't.''

The FAA has the ability to grant experimental licenses to allow spaceships to fly so safety enhancements can be developed, she said.

Under those licenses, spacecraft cannot carry paying passengers. For spacecraft regulated to take passengers, the FAA policy is to allow them to fly as long as passengers give ``informed consent'' in regard to the risk.

``It's the American spirit that people should be allowed to take the risk they want,'' Smith said.

As for regulating aircraft-like operations, Smith said that was the approach taken with Rutan's SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 became the first privately financed, privately built craft to go into space. Rutan's rocket plane won the $10 million Ansari X Prize as the first reusuable private spaceship with flights from Mojave Airport, where it was built.

SpaceShipOne's White Knight carrier plane was regulated like an experimental aircraft, she said. When SpaceShipOne took off, it was regulated like a rocket; when it glided back to Mojave Airport, it was regulated like an airplane, she said.

Among other comments from Rutan: He finds amusing the millions of dollars being spent on spaceports when there are no spacecraft to use them yet.

Rutan said he believes small, private companies will lead the way to affordable space travel.

``I don't believe Boeing and Lockheed will be players because they don't believe it's possible,'' Rutan said.

Rutan's space conference talk offered no insight into his next spacecraft, which he is building for British tycoon Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic company to fly space tourists on suborbital flights.

Virgin Galactic has said it expects to charge $200,000 a ticket, and that more than 100,000 people have expressed interest

``There's a lot of money out there that will be focused on a new industry if we solve the problems of making a robust spacecraft fly,'' Rutan said.

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(1 -- 2 -- color) SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan has complained that NASA's policies on space flight are stifling new discoveries by private firms and individuals.