A bill to improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles.

Bill: 113-s-2140
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2014-03-13
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Licensing and registrations

Spacecraft and satellites
Latest action: action_date: 2014-12-12
text: By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-03-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p> Amends commercial space launch licensing requirements.</p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to issue an experimental permit for a particular reusable suborbital rocket (as under current law) or rocket design after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of a rocket of that design. Declares that any permits already issued shall remain valid for research and development (R&amp;D) and other specified purposes.</p>

action_date: 2014-12-04
action_desc: Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
text: <p> Revises requirements for experimental permits related to commercial space launch activities.</p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue an experimental permit for a particular reusable suborbital vehicle (RSV) for research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques, regardless of whether they are new (as under current law) or already existing.</p> <p>Strikes the requirement that crew training for which the permit may be used must occur before a commercial license for launch or reentry is obtained.</p> <p>Allows a permit to authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular RSV rocket design (as well as for a particular RSV, as under current law).</p> <p>Repeals the prohibition against issuance of a permit, and the automatic invalidation of an existing permit, after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of an RSV of a particular design.</p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary to issue a permit regardless of whether a license has already been issued. Declares that the issuance of a license may not invalidate a permit.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2140 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 13, 2014 Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Udall of New Mexico ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles.

1. Commercial space launch licensing Section 50906 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (e)(1), by striking suborbital rocket design and inserting suborbital rocket or rocket design ; and (2) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) A permit may be issued, and a permit that has already been issued shall remain valid for the uses described in subsection (d), for a particular reusable suborbital rocket or rocket design after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of a rocket of that design. .

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 612 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2140 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 13, 2014 Mr. Heinrich (for Mr. Rubio , Mr. Udall of New Mexico , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Wicker , and Mr. Cornyn ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation December 4, 2014 Reported by Mr. Rockefeller , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles.

1. Commercial space launch licensing Section 50906 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (e)(1), by striking suborbital rocket design and inserting suborbital rocket or rocket design ; and (2) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) A permit may be issued, and a permit that has already been issued shall remain valid for the uses described in subsection (d), for a particular reusable suborbital rocket or rocket design after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of a rocket of that design. .

1. Commercial space launch licensing Section 50906 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (d), by striking launched or reentered and inserting launched or reentered under that permit ; (2) by amending subsection (d)(1) to read as follows: (1) research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques; ; (3) in subsection (d)(3) by striking prior to obtaining a license ; (4) in subsection (e)(1) by striking suborbital rocket design and inserting suborbital rocket or rocket design ; and (5) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) The Secretary may issue a permit under this section notwithstanding any license issued under this chapter. The issuance of a license under this chapter may not invalidate a permit under this section. .

December 4, 2014 Reported with an amendment