(Bloomberg) -- U.S. crash investigators preparing for the rapid growth in space tourism from operators such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are formalizing the rules for investigating accidents.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday issued proposed regulations that would create a formal framework for its authority and responsibilities in the event that a civilian space launch results in a mishap. 

“When the NTSB conducted its first commercial space investigation in the early 1990s, that sector was in its infancy,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a press release. 

“As commercial space operations have expanded exponentially since then, it’s become increasingly important that when there is an accident or incident, it’s crystal clear to commercial space operators and industry stakeholders what procedures are in place to ensure the integrity of our safety investigation,” Homendy added.

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