The new team builds on World Views existing safety protocols as the company readies for human flights in 2024

TUSCON, Ariz. (World View PR) World View, the leading stratospheric exploration and space tourism company, hired three new industry experts to establish and lead a new safety program that includes the companys testing and safety protocols ahead of human space flights starting in 2024. The new personnel will build on World Views existing safety protocols and risk assessment procedures that have successfully guided more than 100 uncrewed flights and remote sensing missions for commercial and government customers. In turn, the committees work will provide the additional measures needed for World View to begin space tourism missions in two years.

Experts leading World Views safety expansion include Greg Ray J Johnson, a former NASA astronaut and Blue Origin executive; Ron Failing from Virgin Galactic; and Charlie Precourt, former NASA astronaut.

Mr. Johnson will serve as World Views Chief Test Pilot. While at NASA, Mr. Johnson was a research pilot, astronaut, and pilot for NASA Shuttle Mission STS-125. He is also a naval officer (retired), Navy test pilot, and aviator with considerable aerospace engineering experience. Most recently a Senior Vice President at Blue Origin, Mr. Johnson led the New Shepard suborbital rocket, overseeing four test flights, and was responsible for engineering logistics, operations, and portions of their West, TX launch and landing site. As World Views Chief Test Pilot, he will help develop and execute testing for space tourism flights and play a critical role in developing safety protocols.

Mr. Failing will serve as World Views Vice President of Aviation Safety. Mr. Failing brings decades of aerospace and aviation safety expertise having implemented several safety management systems, including human factors analysis, risk mitigation, and hazard controls. He was most recently Director of Safety at Virgin Galactic and also worked at Virgin America, Frontier, and Continental Airlines. Drawing from this extensive experience, Mr. Failing will oversee flight safety and the overall development of World Views flight safety program.

Mr. Precourt will lead the development of World Views independent Technical Oversight Committee, which will standardize the key safety and risk assessment protocols needed to ensure successful human flights. While at NASA, Mr. Precourt served as an astronaut, pilot, and commander. He was also Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1998 to 2002, where he led the NASA Astronaut Corps and served as a top advisor to NASA Administrator Daniel Golden during the Clinton and Bush administrations on issues related to training and operations. Following NASA, Mr. Precourt served as the Vice President and General Manager of the Propulsion Division at Northrop Grumman. As a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with advanced degrees in aeronautics and engineering, Mr. Precourt brings deep technical and leadership knowledge to his new role that will be essential for advancing World Views safety standards.

As we enter human flight, a robust and thorough safety program is one of our most serious and important initiatives, said Ryan Hartman, World Views President and CEO. We have brought together a team with world-class expertise ranging from NASA Shuttle missions to aircraft safety and other aerospace programs to ensure our approach to space tourism and remote sensing is the safest and most reliable in the industry. This is a major step forward in World Views ability to not only establish rigorous standards but demonstrate our commitment to safety as we take space tourists to the new frontier.

World View is also seeking AS9100 certification, a quality standard for aerospace, aviation, and defense companies.

About World View

World View is the leading stratospheric exploration company on a mission to inspire the global community to rediscover Earth. Through both its legacy Stratollite imaging and newly launched space tourism and exploration businesses, World View is working to ensure its ultimate objective: honor the planet so that future generations will feel blessed to call it home. For more information, visit worldview.space.

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World View Assembles Space Flight Safety Experts from NASA, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin to Establish Safety Program and Technical Oversight...