Commercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2022

To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify the authority of 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 2022 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 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 (ii) 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 agreement with any Government agency with the authority to certify a commercial space transportation operation or investigate a commercial space transportation accident. Such memoranda shall delineate the conditions under and manner in which— (i) 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; and (ii) the Board will participate in such other Government agency’s investigation. (E) For an occurrence in commercial space transportation other than an accident described in paragraph (1)(F), the Board may only investigate such occurrence— (i) in accordance with the terms of a memorandum of agreement with another Government agency described in subparagraph (D); or (ii) with the agreement of the Government agency responsible for investigating such occurrence. . (c) Technical corrections Section 1131(a)(2)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking or (F) (F), or (G) (d) Savings provision None of the amendments made by subsection (a) or (b) 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 2022 This bill requires the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances, and cause or probable cause of a commercial space transportation accident in which there is (1) 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 (2) 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 other government agency with the authority to certify a commercial space transportation operation or investigate a commercial space transportation accident. The memoranda must delineate the conditions under and manner in which (1) a commercial space transportation accident that may be investigated by the NTSB will be investigated by the other agency, and (2) the NTSB will participate in the other agency's investigation.