STAR Act

To amend title 51 of the United States Code to improve the safety of commercial space flight operations by authorizing the operation of aircraft with experimental certificates carrying persons or property to support research and training for space flight participants and crew, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Spaceflight Training and Astronaut Reform Act STAR Act 2. Experimental permits for space support vehicles (a) Definition of space support vehicle Section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (21) through (25) as paragraphs (22) through (26), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (20) the following: (21) space support vehicle (A) training for space flight participants or crew; or (B) testing of space flight hardware. . (b) Experimental permits Section 50906 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by inserting space support vehicles, reentry vehicles, (B) by inserting or training reentry activities (2) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking only for reusable suborbital rockets or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered for reusable suborbital rockets, reusable launch vehicles, or space support vehicles, that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory, reentered, or flown for training or research purposes (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting , or simulating launch, reentry, or space flight conditions (3) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting or for a particular space support vehicle, for the uses described in subsection (d) (c) Letter of deviation required for experimental permit holder Section 50906 of such title is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following: (i) A space support vehicle may not operate under an experimental permit under this section unless such vehicle has a valid letter of deviation authority in accordance with section 91.319(h) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations or any similar successor regulation. The Secretary shall issue such letter of deviation authority not later than 60 days after the provision of an experimental permit under this section, to the extent consistent with maintaining the public health and safety and the safety of property. .

Summary: Spaceflight Training and Astronaut Reform Act or the STAR Act This bill includes space support vehicles and training among the vehicles and purposes, respectively, for which the Department of Transportation (DOT) may establish safety approval procedures relating to an experimental permit for conducting commercial space launch or reentry activities. A "space support vehicle" is defined as an aircraft operating at a spaceport licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration that simulates space flight conditions in support of training for space flight participants or crew or testing of space flight hardware. The bill expands the vehicles for which DOT may issue an experimental permit to include reusable suborbital rockets, reusable launch vehicles, or space support vehicles, that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory, reentered, or flown for training or research purposes, including to simulate launch, reentry, or space flight conditions. The bill prohibits a space support vehicle from operating under a permit issued pursuant to this bill unless it has a valid letter of deviation authority. DOT shall issue such letter within 60 days after the permit is provided, to the extent consistent with maintaining health and safety.