# Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984

Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 is a United States federal law authored to facilitate the private enterprise of the commercialization of space and space technology. The Act of Congress set forth the quest to acquire innovative equipment and services offered by entrepreneurial ventures from the information technology services, remote sensing technology, and telecommunications industries. The Act recognized the United States private sector as having the capability to develop commercial launch vehicles, orbital satellites, and operate private launch sites and services. The Act also assigned the duties of overseeing and coordinating commercial launches, issuing of licenses and permits, and promotion of safety standards to the Secretary of Department of Transportation.
The H.R. 3942 legislation was enacted by the 98th Congressional session and signed by President Ronald Reagan on October 30, 1984.

## History

In the 1970s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began to look for ways to outsource the use of its launching facilities and services to private companies such as COMSAT, RCA, and Western Union. This search was because maintaining, modifying, launching, and other duties required to launch expendable launch vehicles cost upwards of billions of dollars. Once the space shuttle became operational, NASA and the United States Air Force began using it almost exclusively. In order to accommodate the heavy weight of the space shuttle launch system, the USAF spent billions of dollars modifying one launch pad in Vandenberg Air Force Base. However, it was never used.

## Provisions of the Act

Title 51 United States Code Subtitle V and Chapter 509 was compiled as twenty-three code of law sections to vitalize commercial opportunities and space launch services for the civilian space program of the United States.
    51 U.S.C. § 50901 - Findings and purposes
    51 U.S.C. § 50902 - Definitions
    51 U.S.C. § 50903 - General authority
    51 U.S.C. § 50904 - Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries
    51 U.S.C. § 50905 - License applications and requirements
    51 U.S.C. § 50906 - Experimental permits
    51 U.S.C. § 50907 - Monitoring activities
    51 U.S.C. § 50908 - Effective periods, and modifications, suspensions, and revocations, of licenses
    51 U.S.C. § 50909 - Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries
    51 U.S.C. § 50910 - Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries
    51 U.S.C. § 50911 - Space advertising
    51 U.S.C. § 50912 - Administrative hearings and judicial review
    51 U.S.C. § 50913 - Acquiring United States Government property and services
    51 U.S.C. § 50914 - Liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements
    51 U.S.C. § 50915 - Paying claims exceeding liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements
    51 U.S.C. § 50916 - Disclosing information
    51 U.S.C. § 50917 - Enforcement and penalty
    51 U.S.C. § 50918 - Consultation
    51 U.S.C. § 50919 - Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations
    51 U.S.C. § 50920 - User fees
    51 U.S.C. § 50921 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation
    51 U.S.C. § 50922 - Regulations
    51 U.S.C. § 50923 - Report to Congress

## Amendments to 1984 Act

Chronological amendments to the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984.
| Date of Enactment | Public Law Number | U.S. Statute Citation | U.S. Legislative Bill | U.S. Presidential Administration |
| November 15, 1988 | P.L. 100-657 | 102 Stat. 3900 | H.R. 4399 | Ronald W. Reagan |
| December 23, 2004 | P.L. 108-492 | 118 Stat. 3974 | H.R. 5382 | George W. Bush |