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(B) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking 
‘‘space shuttle’’ both places it appears and in-
serting ‘‘Space Launch System’’; 
(C) in subsection (a)(1)(A)(i), by inserting 
‘‘directly to cis-lunar space and the regions of 
space beyond low-Earth orbit’’ after ‘‘human 
presence’’; 
(D) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘a 
shuttle launch’’ and inserting ‘‘a launch of the 
Space Launch System’’; 
(E) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘a 
space shuttle mission’’ and inserting ‘‘a mission 
of the Space Launch System’’; 
(F) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘space shuttle’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Space 
Launch System’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘from the shuttle’’ and 
inserting ‘‘from the Space Launch Sys-
tem’’; 
(G) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘space 
shuttle’’ and inserting ‘‘Space Launch System’’; 
and 
(H) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
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‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘Space 
Launch System’ means the Space Launch System author-
ized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The item re-
lating section 70102 in the table of sections for 
chapter 701 of title 51, United States Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘Space shuttle’’ and inserting 
‘‘Space Launch System’’. 
(d) SECTION 70103.— 
(1) AMENDMENTS.—Section 70103 of title 51, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘space shuttle’’ and inserting ‘‘Space 
Launch System’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘space shuttle’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘Space Launch Sys-
tem’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The item re-
lating section 70103 in the table of sections for 
chapter 701 of title 51, United States Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘space shuttle’’ and inserting 
‘‘Space Launch System’’. 
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TITLE II—SPACE RESOURCE EX-
PLORATION 
AND 
UTILIZA-
TION 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Space Resource Explo-
ration and Utilization Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 202. TITLE 51 AMENDMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle V of title 51, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 513—SPACE RESOURCE 
EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘51301. Definitions. 
‘‘51302. Commercialization of space resource exploration and utilization. 
‘‘51303. Legal framework. 
‘‘§ 51301. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) SPACE RESOURCE.—The term ‘space re-
source’ means a natural resource of any kind found 
in situ in outer space. 
‘‘(2) ASTEROID RESOURCE.—The term ‘asteroid 
resource’ means a space resource found on or within 
a single asteroid. 
‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means any of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
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Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and any other common-
wealth, territory, or possession of the United States. 
‘‘(4) UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACE RE-
SOURCE
UTILIZATION
ENTITY.—The term ‘United 
States commercial space resource utilization entity’ 
means an entity providing space resource exploration 
or utilization services, the control of which is held by 
persons other than a Federal, State, local, or foreign 
government, and that is— 
‘‘(A) duly organized under the laws of a 
State; 
‘‘(B) subject to the subject matter and per-
sonal jurisdiction of the courts of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(C) a foreign entity that has voluntarily 
submitted to the subject matter and personal 
jurisdiction of the courts of the United States. 
‘‘§ 51302. Commercialization of space resource explo-
ration and utilization 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through 
appropriate Federal agencies, shall— 
‘‘(1) facilitate the commercial exploration and 
utilization of space resources to meet national needs; 
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‘‘(2) discourage government barriers to the de-
velopment of economically viable, safe, and stable in-
dustries for the exploration and utilization of space 
resources in manners consistent with the existing 
international obligations of the United States; and 
‘‘(3) promote the right of United States com-
mercial entities to explore outer space and utilize 
space resources, in accordance with the existing 
international obligations of the United States, free 
from harmful interference, and to transfer or sell 
such resources. 
‘‘(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Presi-
dent shall submit to Congress a report that contains rec-
ommendations for— 
‘‘(1) the allocation of responsibilities relating to 
the exploration and utilization of space resources 
among Federal agencies; and 
‘‘(2) any authorities necessary to meet the 
international obligations of the United States with 
respect to the exploration and utilization of space re-
sources. 
‘‘§ 51303. Legal framework 
‘‘(a) PROPERTY RIGHTS.—Any asteroid resources ob-
tained in outer space are the property of the entity that 
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obtained such resources, which shall be entitled to all 
property rights thereto, consistent with applicable provi-
sions of Federal law and existing international obligations. 
‘‘(b) SAFETY
OF OPERATIONS.—A United States 
commercial space resource utilization entity shall avoid 
causing harmful interference in outer space. 
‘‘(c) CIVIL ACTION FOR RELIEF FROM HARMFUL IN-
TERFERENCE.—A United States commercial space re-
source utilization entity may bring a civil action for appro-
priate legal or equitable relief, or both, under this chapter 
for any action by another entity subject to United States 
jurisdiction causing harmful interference to its operations 
with respect to an asteroid resource utilization activity in 
outer space. 
‘‘(d) RULE OF DECISION.—In a civil action brought 
pursuant to subsection (c) with respect to an asteroid re-
source utilization activity in outer space, a court shall 
enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff if the court finds— 
‘‘(1) the plaintiff— 
‘‘(A) acted in accordance with all existing 
international obligations of the United States; 
and 
‘‘(B) was first in time to conduct the activ-
ity; and 
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‘‘(2) the activity is reasonable for the explo-
ration and utilization of asteroid resources. 
‘‘(e) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.—The district courts 
of the United States shall have original jurisdiction over 
an action under this chapter without regard to the amount 
in controversy.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters 
for title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end of the items for subtitle V the following: 
‘‘513. Space resource exploration and utilization ................51301’’. 
TITLE III—COMMERCIAL 
REMOTE SENSING 
SEC. 301. ANNUAL REPORTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 601 of 
title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 60126. Annual reporting 
‘‘The Secretary shall provide a report to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of the SPACE Act 
of 2015 and annually thereafter on— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary’s implementation of section 
60121, including— 
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‘‘(A) a list of all applications received in 
the previous calendar year; 
‘‘(B) a list of all applications approved; 
‘‘(C) a list of all applications denied and 
an explanation of why each application was de-
nied, including any information relevant to the 
interagency adjudication process of a licensing 
request; 
‘‘(D) a list of all applications that required 
additional information; and 
‘‘(E) a list of all applications whose dis-
position exceeded the 120 day deadline estab-
lished in section 60121(c), the total days over-
due for applications that exceeded such dead-
line, and an explanation for the delay; 
‘‘(2) all notifications and information provided 
to the Secretary pursuant to section 60122; and 
‘‘(3) all actions taken by the Secretary under 
the administrative authority granted by section 
60123(a)(4), (5), and (6). 
Such report may include classified annexes as necessary 
to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified informa-
tion.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 601 of such title is amended 
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by inserting after the item relating to section 60125 the 
following new item: 
‘‘60126. Annual reporting.’’. 
SEC. 302. STATUTORY UPDATE REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with other ap-
propriate Federal agencies and the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration’s Advisory Committee on 
Commercial Remote Sensing, shall report to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on statutory 
updates necessary to protect national security, protect pri-
vacy (which is not to be taken as altering any condition 
or standards for licensing), protect the United States in-
dustrial base, and reflect the current state of the art of 
remote sensing systems, instruments, or technologies. 
TITLE IV—OFFICE OF SPACE 
COMMERCE 
SEC. 401. RENAMING OF OFFICE OF SPACE COMMER-
CIALIZATION. 
(a) CHAPTER HEADING.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—The chapter heading for 
chapter 507 of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘COMMERCIALIZA-
TION’’ and inserting ‘‘Commerce’’. 
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(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The item re-
lating to chapter 507 in the table chapters for title 
51, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘Commercialization’’ and inserting ‘‘Commerce’’. 
(b) DEFINITION OF OFFICE.— Section 50701 of title 
51, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Commer-
cialization’’ and inserting ‘‘Commerce’’. 
(c) RENAMING.—Section 50702(a) of title 51, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Commercialization’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Commerce’’. 
SEC. 402. FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF SPACE COM-
MERCE. 
Section 50702(c) of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘Commerce.’’ and inserting ‘‘Com-
merce, including to— 
‘‘(1) foster the conditions for the economic 
growth and technological advancement of the United 
States space commerce industry; 
‘‘(2) coordinate space commerce policy issues 
and actions within the Department of Commerce; 
‘‘(3) represent the Department of Commerce in 
the development of United States policies and in ne-
gotiations with foreign countries to promote United 
States space commerce; 
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‘‘(4) promote the advancement of United States 
geospatial technologies related to space commerce, in 
cooperation 
with 
relevant 
interagency 
working 
groups; and 
‘‘(5) provide support to Federal Government or-
ganizations working on Space-Based Positioning 
Navigation, and Timing policy, including the Na-
tional Coordination Office for Space-Based Position, 
Navigation, and Timing.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2015. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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