Commercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2019

To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide certain authority to the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate commercial space transportation accidents, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2019 2. General authority of the National Transportation Safety Board (a) In general Section 1131(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (E) by striking and (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: (F) a commercial space transportation accident in which there is— (i) a known impact of a commercial launch vehicle, the payload of such vehicle, or any component thereof outside of the hazard area designated for the launch or reentry of such vehicle; (ii) a fatality or significant injury of any individual, regardless of whether the individual was on board the commercial launch vehicle at the time of the accident; or (iii) substantial damage to property that is not associated with commercial space launch activities and that is not located at the launch site; and . (b) Other investigative agencies Section 1131(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (D) The Board shall seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any Government agency with the authority to certify a commercial space transportation operation. Such memoranda shall delineate the conditions under which a commercial space transportation accident that may be investigated by the Board under subparagraph (F) or (G) of paragraph (1) will instead be investigated by the other Government agency. Such memoranda may not preclude the Board’s participation in the other Government agency’s investigation. . (c) Savings provision None of the amendments made by subsection (a) shall be construed to limit the authority of the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate any other commercial space transportation accident that, in the judgement of the Board, falls under the authority of the Board under section 1131(a)(1)(G) (as redesignated by this Act).

Summary: Commercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate a commercial space transportation accident in which there is (1) a known impact of a commercial launch vehicle, the payload of such vehicle, or any component thereof outside of the hazard area designated for the launch or reentry of such vehicle; (2) a fatality or significant injury of any individual, regardless of whether the individual was on board the commercial launch vehicle at the time of the accident; or (3) substantial damage to property that is not associated with commercial space launch activities and that is not located at the launch site. The NTSB shall seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any government agency with the authority to certify a commercial space transportation operation to delineate the conditions under which a commercial space transportation accident will be investigated by such agency rather than by the NTSB.