U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act

Bill: 114-hr-2262
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA-23]
Introduced: 2015-05-12
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Congressional oversight

Department of Commerce

Department of Transportation

Executive agency funding and structure

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government liability

Government studies and investigations

Licensing and registrations

Life, casualty, property insurance

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Public-private cooperation

Research and development

Space flight and exploration

Spacecraft and satellites

Technology transfer and commercialization

Trade agreements and negotiations

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2015-11-25
text: Became Public Law No: 114-90.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-05-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015 </b></p> <p> This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards or any other construction that promotes best practices, and (2) the status of the knowledge and operational experience acquired by the industry while providing flight services for compensation or hire to support the development of a safety framework.</p> <p>An independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization shall assess the readiness of the industry and the federal government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. </p> <p>DOT shall provide the committees a plan to update the methodology used to calculate maximum probable loss from claims with respect to commercially licensed space launch liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements through the use of a validated risk profile approach. The Government Accountability Office shall assess the plan. </p> <p>The liability coverage of licensees subject to third-party claims exceeding the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility is extended through December 31, 2023.</p> <p>Certain time constraints of commercial space launch and reentry experimental permit requirements are repealed and rockets as well as rocket designs are covered. DOT may issue an experimental launch or reentry permit notwithstanding the issuance of any launch or reentry license. </p> <p>Commercial space launch requirements apply to newly defined government astronauts. </p> <p>Liability insurance and financial responsibility and reciprocal waiver of claims requirements shall now cover space flight participants. </p> <p>Federal courts shall have sole jurisdiction of any action or tort arising from a licensed launch or reentry, which shall be decided under federal law. </p> <p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall arrange with an independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities.</p> <p>The sense of Congress is expressed about state commercial launch facilities.</p>

action_date: 2015-05-18
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p><b>Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015 </b></p> <p> (Sec. 2) The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall report periodically to specified congressional committees on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards or any other construction that promotes best practices.</p> <p>DOT shall also report to Congress on the status of the knowledge and operational experience acquired by the commercial space transportation industry while providing flight services for compensation or hire to support the development of a safety framework.</p> <p>An independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by DOT shall assess the readiness of the industry and the federal government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations.</p> <p>The contracted organization, as part of such review, must evaluate: (1) the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting industry voluntary standards or any other construction as reported by DOT in the interim assessments in the knowledge and operational report; and (2) the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire. </p> <p>Beginning on December 31, 2025, DOT may propose new regulations pursuant to this section. </p> <p>(Sec. 3) DOT shall provide the committees a plan to update the methodology used to calculate maximum probable loss from claims with respect to commercially licensed space launch liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements through the use of a validated risk profile approach. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall assess the plan.</p> <p>The liability coverage of licensees subject to third-party claims exceeding the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility is extended through December 31, 2025.</p> <p>(Sec. 4) Certain time constraints of requirements for commercial space launch and reentry experimental permits are repealed and rockets as well as rocket designs are covered. DOT may issue an experimental launch or reentry permit notwithstanding the issuance of any launch or reentry license. Neither shall the issuance of such a license invalidate an experimental permit.</p> <p>DOT may now issue an experimental permit for reusable suborbital rockets that will be launched or reentered solely for crew training regardless of whether the crew trains before or after obtaining a license. <p>Experimental permits may also authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular suborbital rocket or rocket design (currently, only for a rocket design). <p>(Sec. 5) Commercial space launch requirements now apply to government astronauts, who are any NASA designees who are employees of the U.S. or any foreign government meeting certain criteria who are carried within a launch or reentry vehicle in the course of their employment.</p> <p>(Sec. 6) Liability insurance and financial responsibility and reciprocal waiver of claims requirements shall now cover space flight participants.</p> <p>(Sec. 7) Federal courts shall have sole jurisdiction of any action or tort arising from a licensed launch or reentry, which shall be decided under federal law.</p> <p>(Sec. 8) Financial responsibility and reciprocal waiver of claims requirements now apply to space flight participants. </p> <p>(Sec. 9) The bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning orbital traffic management. </p> <p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall arrange with an independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities.</p> <p>Congress recognizes the vital and unique role played by the Department of Defense in the protection of national security assets in space. </p> <p>(Sec. 10) The sense of Congress is expressed concerning state commercial launch facilities. States and state launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to secure their investments and the safety of third parties from potential damages that could be suffered from commercial launch activities.</p> <p>(Sec. 11) GAO shall report to Congress on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. </p> <p>(Sec. 12) The sense of Congress is expressed concerning the elimination of duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations.</p> <p>This bill reaffirms that DOT, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should:</p> <ul> <li>promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector;</li> <li>facilitate government, state, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities;</li> <li>protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and</li> <li>consult with another executive agency, including the Department of Defense (DOD) or NASA, as necessary to provide consistent application of commercial space launch licensing requirements. </li> </ul> <p>DOT must consult with DOD, NASA, and other executive agencies to identify and evaluate all requirements imposed to protect health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, and:</p> <ul> <li>determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency, and</li> <li>resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals.</li> </ul> <p>DOT shall report annually to Congress on these efforts until no outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals exist. </p> <p>(Sec. 13) References to the space shuttle in certain current federal law with respect to commercial space flight are changed to Space Launch System.</p>

action_date: 2015-05-21
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015 </b></p> <p>TITLE I--COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH</p> <p> (Sec. 101) This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report periodically to specified congressional committees on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards or any other construction that promotes best practices.</p> <p>DOT shall also report to Congress on the status of the knowledge and operational experience acquired by the commercial space transportation industry while providing flight services for compensation or hire to support the development of a safety framework. </p> <p>An independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by DOT shall assess the readiness of the industry and the federal government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations.</p> <p>The contracted organization, as part of such review, must evaluate: (1) the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting industry voluntary standards or any other construction as reported by DOT in the interim assessments in the knowledge and operational report; and (2) the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire. </p> <p>Beginning on December 31, 2025, DOT may propose new regulations pursuant to this section. </p> <p> (Sec. 102) DOT shall provide the committees a plan to update the methodology used to calculate maximum probable loss from claims with respect to commercially licensed space launch liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements through the use of a validated risk profile approach. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall assess the plan.</p> <p>The liability coverage of licensees subject to third-party claims exceeding the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility is extended through December 31, 2025.</p> <p> (Sec. 103) Certain time constraints of requirements for commercial space launch and reentry experimental permits are repealed. Rockets, reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory, and designs for such vehicles as well as rocket designs are covered. DOT may issue an experimental launch or reentry permit notwithstanding the issuance of any launch or reentry license. Neither shall the issuance of such a license invalidate an experimental permit.</p> <p>DOT may issue an experimental permit for reusable suborbital rockets or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered solely for crew training regardless of whether the crew trains before or after obtaining a license. <p>Experimental permits may also authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular suborbital rocket or reusable launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design (currently, only for a suborbital rocket design). <p>Prohibits any person from operating a reusable launch vehicle (as well as, currently, a reusable suborbital rocket) under an experimental permit for carrying any property or human being for compensation or hire. <p> (Sec. 104) Commercial space launch requirements will apply to government astronauts, who are any National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) designees who are employees of the U.S. or any foreign government meeting certain criteria who are carried within a launch or reentry vehicle in the course of their employment.</p> <p> (Sec. 105) Liability insurance and financial responsibility shall cover space flight participants.</p> <p>(Sec. 106) The GAO shall study the issues associated with space flight participants and potential third party claims that could arise from a potential accident of a commercial licensed launch vehicle or reentry vehicle carrying those participants. </p> <p> (Sec. 107) Federal courts shall have sole jurisdiction of any action or tort arising from a licensed launch or reentry.</p> <p> (Sec. 108) Financial responsibility and reciprocal waiver of claims requirements now apply to space flight participants. </p> <p> (Sec. 109) The bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning orbital traffic management. </p> <p>NASA shall arrange with an independent, nonprofit, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities.</p> <p>Congress recognizes the vital and unique role played by the Department of Defense (DOD) in the protection of national security assets in space. </p> <p> (Sec. 110) The sense of Congress is expressed concerning state commercial launch facilities. States and state launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to secure their investments and the safety of third parties from potential damages that could be suffered from commercial launch activities. </p> <p>The GAO shall report to Congress on the potential inclusion of all government property, including state and municipal property, in the existing indemnification regime. </p> <p> (Sec. 111) The GAO shall report to Congress on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. </p> <p> (Sec. 112) The sense of Congress is expressed concerning the elimination of duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations.</p> <p>This bill reaffirms that DOT, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should:</p> <ul> <li>promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector;</li> <li>facilitate government, state, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities;</li> <li>protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and</li> <li>consult with another executive agency, including DOD or NASA, as necessary to provide consistent application of commercial space launch licensing requirements. </li> </ul> <p>DOT must consult with DOD, NASA, and other executive agencies to identify and evaluate all requirements imposed to protect health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, and:</p> <ul> <li>determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency, and</li> <li>resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals.</li> </ul> <p>DOT shall report annually to Congress on these efforts until no outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals exist. </p> <p> (Sec. 113) References to the space shuttle in certain current federal law with respect to commercial space flight are changed to Space Launch System.</p> <p>TITLE II--SPACE RESOURCE EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION</p> <p><i>Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015</i></p> <p>(Sec. 202) This bill directs the President, acting through appropriate federal agencies, to: </p> <ul> <li>facilitate the commercial exploration and utilization of space resources to meet national needs;</li> <li>discourage government barriers to the development of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the exploration and utilization of space resources in manners consistent with the existing international obligations of the United States; and</li> <li>promote the right of U.S. commercial entities to explore outer space and utilize space resources, in accordance with such obligations, free from harmful interference, and to transfer or sell such resources. </li> </ul> <p>The President shall make recommendations to Congress 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 U.S. international obligations with respect to such exploration and resource utilization.</p> <p>Any asteroid resources obtained in outer space are the property of the entity that obtained them, which shall be entitled to all property rights to them, consistent with applicable federal law and existing international obligations. </p> <p>A U.S. commercial space resource utilization entity:</p> <ul> <li>shall avoid causing harmful interference in outer space, and</li> <li>may bring a civil action in a U.S. district court for any action by another entity subject to U.S. jurisdiction causing harmful interference to its operations with respect to an asteroid resource utilization activity in outer space. </li> </ul> <p>TITLE III--COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING</p> <p>(Sec. 301) The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on the implementation of its authority to license private sector parties to operate private remote sensing space systems. </p> <p>Such reports may include classified annexes necessary to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information.</p> <p>(Sec. 302) Commerce shall report to Congress on the statutory updates necessary to protect national security, protect privacy, protect the U.S. industrial base, and reflect state of the art remote sensing systems, instruments, or technologies. </p> <p>TITLE IV--OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCE</p> <p>(Sec. 401) This bill renames the Office of Space Commercialization as the Office of Space Commerce. </p> <p>The Office of Space Commerce shall: </p> <ul> <li>foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. space commerce industry; </li> <li>coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within Commerce;</li> <li> represent Commerce in the development of U.S. policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote U.S. space commerce; </li> <li>promote the advancement of U.S. geospatial technologies related to space commerce in cooperation with relevant interagency working groups; and </li> <li>support federal government organizations working on Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing policy.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2015-11-10
action_desc: Passed Senate amended
text: <p><b>U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act</b></p> TITLE I--SPURRING PRIVATE AEROSPACE COMPETITIVENESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP <p><i>Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015</i></p> <p> (Sec. 102) It is the sense of Congress that it is in the public interest to update the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from commercial space launch liability claims with a validated risk profile approach in order to consistently compute valid and reasonable maximum probable loss values. </p> <p>The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall: (1) evaluate and, if necessary, develop a plan to update, the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from commercial space launch liability claims; and (2) meet specified criteria in evaluating or developing the plan.</p> <p> The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall assess the evaluation and any plan.</p> <p>The liability coverage of licensees subject to third-party claims exceeding the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility shall be extended through FY2025.</p> <p>(Sec. 103) Liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements shall cover space flight participants through FY2025. </p> <p>(Sec. 104) Certain time constraints in requirements for commercial space launch and reentry experimental permits are repealed. Rockets, reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory, and designs for such vehicles as well as rocket designs shall be covered. DOT may issue an experimental launch or reentry permit notwithstanding the issuance of any launch or reentry license. Neither shall the issuance of such a license invalidate an experimental permit. <p>DOT may issue an experimental permit for reusable suborbital rockets or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered solely for crew training regardless of whether the crew trains before or after obtaining a license. <p>Experimental permits may also authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular suborbital rocket or reusable launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design (currently, only for a suborbital rocket design). <p>No person may operate a reusable launch vehicle (or, as currently, a reusable suborbital rocket) under an experimental permit for carrying any property or human being for compensation or hire.<p> (Sec. 105) DOT shall report to Congress on approaches for streamlining the licensing and permitting process of launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or their components, to enable non-launch flight operations related to space transportation. <p> (Sec. 106) Federal courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction of any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the commercial space launch or reentry license. </p> <p> (Sec. 107) Reciprocal waiver of claims requirements shall apply to space flight participants through FY2025. </p> <p> (Sec. 108) The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall:</p> <ul> <li>assess current, and proposed near-term, commercial non-governmental activities conducted in space;</li> <li>identify appropriate authorization and supervision authorities for such activities; and</li> <li>recommend to Congress an authorization and supervision approach that would prioritize safety, utilize existing authorities, minimize burdens to the commercial space transportation industry, promote the U.S. commercial space sector, and meet U.S. obligations under international treaties. </li> </ul> <p>These requirements shall not apply to the International Space Station (ISS) or any research or development projects using the ISS national laboratory.</p> <p>(Sec. 109) The bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning space traffic management of federal assets and U.S. private assets in outer space and orbital debris mitigation. </p> <p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall arrange with an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study alternate frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities.</p> <p>It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense (DOD) plays a vital and unique role in the protection of national security assets in space. </p> <p> (Sec. 110) DOT, in concurrence with DOD, shall study the feasibility of processing and releasing to any entity safety-related space situational awareness data and information consistent with national security interests and U.S. public safety obligations. </p> <p> (Sec. 111) DOT shall continue to work with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (or its successor organization), to facilitate the development of voluntary consensus standards based on recommended best practices to improve the safety of crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants as that sector continues to mature. </p> <p>DOT shall also report periodically to specified congressional committees on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. </p> <p>DOT must report to Congress key industry metrics that might indicate readiness of the commercial space sector and DOT to transition to a safety framework that considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and crew safety. </p>  <p>An independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by DOT shall assess the readiness of the commercial space industry and the federal government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. </p>   <p> (Sec. 112) Certain commercial space launch requirements shall apply to government astronauts, defined as any NASA designees who are U.S. government employees or international partner astronauts carried within a launch or reentry vehicle in the course of their employment. </p> <p> (Sec. 113) The sense of Congress is expressed favoring the elimination of duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations.</p> <p>This bill reaffirms that DOT, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should:</p> <ul> <li>promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector;</li> <li>facilitate government, state, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities;</li> <li>protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and</li> <li>consult with another executive agency, including DOD or NASA, as necessary to provide consistent application of commercial space launch licensing requirements. </li> </ul> <p>DOT must consult with DOD, NASA, and other executive agencies to identify and evaluate all requirements imposed to protect health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, and:</p> <ul> <li>determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency, and</li> <li>resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals.</li> </ul> <p>DOT shall report annually to Congress on these efforts until no outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals exist. </p> <p> (Sec. 114) The sense of Congress is expressed regarding operation and use of the ISS. </p> <p>NASA shall ensure that the ISS remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential U.S. utilization through at least FY2024 (currently, through FY2020).</p> <p>NASA shall ensure that the ISS as a designated national laboratory:</p> <ul> <li>remains viable as an element of overall exploration and partnership strategies and approaches; </li> <li>is considered for use by all NASA mission directorates for technically appropriate scientific data gathering or technology risk reduction demonstrations; and </li> <li>remains an effective, functional vehicle providing research and test bed capabilities for the United States through at least FY2024.</li> </ul> <p> (Sec. 115) The sense of Congress is expressed concerning state commercial launch facilities. States and state launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to protect themselves to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services or reentry services, and to compensate third parties for possible death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from any licensed commercial space launch activity to which the state or state launch facility is involved in launch services or reentry services. </p> <p>The GAO shall report to Congress on the potential inclusion of all government property, including state and municipal property, in the existing indemnification regime.</p> <p> (Sec. 116) The GAO shall report to Congress on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. </p> <p> ( Sec. 117) The space shuttle program with respect to commercial space flight is replaced by a Space Launch System. </p> <p>The Space Launch System may be used for: </p> <ul> <li>payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the System's unique capabilities; </li> <li>other payloads and missions that also benefit substantially from the System's unique capabilities;</li> <li>federal government or educational payloads, on a space available basis, consistent with NASA's mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and </li> <li>compelling circumstances, as determined by NASA. </li> </ul> <p>NASA may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts related to science and technology using the Space Launch System. </p> <p>In the case of a compelling circumstance, NASA shall notify Congress of its intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission, with a justification for that determination. </p> <p>TITLE II--COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING</p> <p> (Sec. 201) The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on the implementation of its authority to license private sector parties to operate private remote sensing space systems. </p> <p> Each such report may include classified annexes necessary to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information. </p>  <p> (Sec. 202) Commerce shall report to Congress on the statutory updates necessary to license private remote sensing space systems, taking into account the need to protect national security while maintaining U.S. private sector leadership in the field. </p> <p>TITLE III--OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCE</p> <p> (Sec. 301) This bill renames the Office of Space Commercialization as the Office of Space Commerce. </p> <p>(Sec. 302) The Office of Space Commerce shall: </p> <ul> <li>foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. space commerce industry; </li> <li>coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within Commerce;</li> <li> represent Commerce in the development of U.S. policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote U.S. space commerce; </li> <li>promote the advancement of U.S. geospatial technologies related to space commerce in cooperation with relevant interagency working groups; and </li> <li>support federal government organizations working on Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing policy.</li> </ul> <p>TITLE IV--SPACE RESOURCE EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION</p> <p><i>Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015</i></p> <p>(Sec. 402) The bill directs the President, acting through appropriate federal agencies, to: </p> <ul> <li>facilitate the commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by U.S. citizens;</li> <li>discourage government barriers to the development of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with U.S. international obligations; and</li> <li>promote the right of U.S. citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with such obligations and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the federal government. </li> </ul>  <p>A U.S. citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell it according to applicable law, including U.S. international obligations. </p> <p>(Sec. 403) It is the sense of Congress that the United States does not, by enactment of this Act, assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or ownership of, any celestial body. </p>

action_date: 2015-11-25
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 10, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><b>U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act</b></p> TITLE I--SPURRING PRIVATE AEROSPACE COMPETITIVENESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP <p><i>Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015</i></p> <p> (Sec. 102) It is the sense of Congress that it is in the public interest to update the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from commercial space launch liability claims with a validated risk profile approach in order to consistently compute valid and reasonable maximum probable loss values. </p> <p>The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall: (1) evaluate and, if necessary, develop a plan to update, the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from commercial space launch liability claims; and (2) meet specified criteria in evaluating or developing the plan.</p> <p> The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall assess the evaluation and any plan.</p> <p>The liability coverage of licensees subject to third-party claims exceeding the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility shall be extended through FY2025.</p> <p>(Sec. 103) Liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements shall cover space flight participants through FY2025. </p> <p>(Sec. 104) Certain time constraints in requirements for commercial space launch and reentry experimental permits are repealed. Rockets, reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory, and designs for such vehicles as well as rocket designs shall be covered. DOT may issue an experimental launch or reentry permit notwithstanding the issuance of any launch or reentry license. Neither shall the issuance of such a license invalidate an experimental permit. <p>DOT may issue an experimental permit for reusable suborbital rockets or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered solely for crew training regardless of whether the crew trains before or after obtaining a license. <p>Experimental permits may also authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular suborbital rocket or reusable launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design (currently, only for a suborbital rocket design). <p>No person may operate a reusable launch vehicle (or, as currently, a reusable suborbital rocket) under an experimental permit for carrying any property or human being for compensation or hire.<p> (Sec. 105) DOT shall report to Congress on approaches for streamlining the licensing and permitting process of launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or their components, to enable non-launch flight operations related to space transportation. <p> (Sec. 106) Federal courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction of any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the commercial space launch or reentry license. </p> <p> (Sec. 107) Reciprocal waiver of claims requirements shall apply to space flight participants through FY2025. </p> <p> (Sec. 108) The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall:</p> <ul> <li>assess current, and proposed near-term, commercial non-governmental activities conducted in space;</li> <li>identify appropriate authorization and supervision authorities for such activities; and</li> <li>recommend to Congress an authorization and supervision approach that would prioritize safety, utilize existing authorities, minimize burdens to the commercial space transportation industry, promote the U.S. commercial space sector, and meet U.S. obligations under international treaties. </li> </ul> <p>These requirements shall not apply to the International Space Station (ISS) or any research or development projects using the ISS national laboratory.</p> <p>(Sec. 109) The bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning space traffic management of federal assets and U.S. private assets in outer space and orbital debris mitigation. </p> <p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall arrange with an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study alternate frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities.</p> <p>It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense (DOD) plays a vital and unique role in the protection of national security assets in space. </p> <p> (Sec. 110) DOT, in concurrence with DOD, shall study the feasibility of processing and releasing to any entity safety-related space situational awareness data and information consistent with national security interests and U.S. public safety obligations. </p> <p> (Sec. 111) DOT shall continue to work with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (or its successor organization), to facilitate the development of voluntary consensus standards based on recommended best practices to improve the safety of crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants as that sector continues to mature. </p> <p>DOT shall also report periodically to specified congressional committees on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. </p> <p>DOT must report to Congress key industry metrics that might indicate readiness of the commercial space sector and DOT to transition to a safety framework that considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and crew safety. </p> <p>An independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by DOT shall assess the readiness of the commercial space industry and the federal government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. </p> <p> (Sec. 112) Certain commercial space launch requirements shall apply to government astronauts, defined as any NASA designees who are U.S. government employees or international partner astronauts carried within a launch or reentry vehicle in the course of their employment. </p> <p> (Sec. 113) The sense of Congress is expressed favoring the elimination of duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations.</p> <p>This bill reaffirms that DOT, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should:</p> <ul> <li>promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector;</li> <li>facilitate government, state, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities;</li> <li>protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and</li> <li>consult with another executive agency, including DOD or NASA, as necessary to provide consistent application of commercial space launch licensing requirements. </li> </ul> <p>DOT must consult with DOD, NASA, and other executive agencies to identify and evaluate all requirements imposed to protect health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, and:</p> <ul> <li>determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency, and</li> <li>resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals.</li> </ul> <p>DOT shall report annually to Congress on these efforts until no outmoded or duplicative federal requirements or approvals exist. </p> <p> (Sec. 114) The sense of Congress is expressed regarding operation and use of the ISS. </p> <p>NASA shall ensure that the ISS remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential U.S. utilization through at least FY2024 (currently, through FY2020).</p> <p>NASA shall ensure that the ISS as a designated national laboratory:</p> <ul> <li>remains viable as an element of overall exploration and partnership strategies and approaches; </li> <li>is considered for use by all NASA mission directorates for technically appropriate scientific data gathering or technology risk reduction demonstrations; and </li> <li>remains an effective, functional vehicle providing research and test bed capabilities for the United States through at least FY2024.</li> </ul> <p> (Sec. 115) The sense of Congress is expressed concerning state commercial launch facilities. States and state launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to protect themselves to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services or reentry services, and to compensate third parties for possible death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from any licensed commercial space launch activity to which the state or state launch facility is involved in launch services or reentry services. </p> <p>The GAO shall report to Congress on the potential inclusion of all government property, including state and municipal property, in the existing indemnification regime.</p> <p> (Sec. 116) The GAO shall report to Congress on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. </p> <p> ( Sec. 117) The space shuttle program with respect to commercial space flight is replaced by a Space Launch System. </p> <p>The Space Launch System may be used for: </p> <ul> <li>payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the System's unique capabilities; </li> <li>other payloads and missions that also benefit substantially from the System's unique capabilities;</li> <li>federal government or educational payloads, on a space available basis, consistent with NASA's mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and </li> <li>compelling circumstances, as determined by NASA. </li> </ul> <p>NASA may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts related to science and technology using the Space Launch System. </p> <p>In the case of a compelling circumstance, NASA shall notify Congress of its intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission, with a justification for that determination. </p> <p>TITLE II--COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING</p> <p> (Sec. 201) The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on the implementation of its authority to license private sector parties to operate private remote sensing space systems. </p> <p> Each such report may include classified annexes necessary to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information. </p> <p> (Sec. 202) Commerce shall report to Congress on the statutory updates necessary to license private remote sensing space systems, taking into account the need to protect national security while maintaining U.S. private sector leadership in the field. </p> <p>TITLE III--OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCE</p> <p> (Sec. 301) This bill renames the Office of Space Commercialization as the Office of Space Commerce. </p> <p>(Sec. 302) The Office of Space Commerce shall: </p> <ul> <li>foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. space commerce industry; </li> <li>coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within Commerce;</li> <li> represent Commerce in the development of U.S. policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote U.S. space commerce; </li> <li>promote the advancement of U.S. geospatial technologies related to space commerce in cooperation with relevant interagency working groups; and </li> <li>support federal government organizations working on Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing policy.</li> </ul> <p>TITLE IV--SPACE RESOURCE EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION</p> <p><i>Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015</i></p> <p>(Sec. 402) The bill directs the President, acting through appropriate federal agencies, to: </p> <ul> <li>facilitate the commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by U.S. citizens;</li> <li>discourage government barriers to the development of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with U.S. international obligations; and</li> <li>promote the right of U.S. citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with such obligations and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the federal government. </li> </ul> <p>A U.S. citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell it according to applicable law, including U.S. international obligations. </p> <p>(Sec. 403) It is the sense of Congress that the United States does not, by enactment of this Act, assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or ownership of, any celestial body. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2262 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 12, 2015 Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas , Mr. Palazzo , Mr. Rohrabacher , Mr. Lucas , Mr. McCaul , Mr. Posey , Mr. Knight , Mr. Babin , Mr. Hultgren , Mr. Bridenstine , Mr. Weber of Texas , and Mr. Moolenaar ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015 . 2. Consensus standards Section 50905(c) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (3); (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (8); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Interim Industry Voluntary Consensus Standards Report The Secretary, in consultation with the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards or any other construction that promotes best practices to improve the industry. Such report shall include, at a minimum— (A) any voluntary industry consensus standards or any other construction that have been accepted by the industry at large; (B) the identification of areas that have the potential to become voluntary industry consensus standards or another potential construction that are currently under consideration by the industry at large; (C) an assessment from the Secretary on the general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary consensus standards or any other construction; (D) lessons learned about voluntary industry consensus standards or any other construction, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; (E) any lessons learned associated with the development, potential application, and acceptance of voluntary industry consensus standards or any other construction, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; and (F) recommendations, findings, or observations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, on the progress of the industry in developing industry consensus standards or any other construction. This report, with the appropriate updates in the intervening periods, shall be transmitted to such committees no later than December 31, 2016, December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2020. Each report shall describe and assess the progress achieved as of 6 months prior to the specified transmittal date. (4) Interim Report on Knowledge and Operational Experience The Secretary shall provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the of the Senate on the status of the knowledge and operational experience acquired by the industry while providing flight services for compensation or hire to support the development of a safety framework. Interim reports shall be transmitted to such committees no later than December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2020. Each report shall describe and assess the progress achieved as of 6 months prior to the specified transmittal date. (5) Independent Review No later than December 31, 2021, an independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the readiness of the commercial space industry and the Federal Government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. As part of the review, the contracted organization shall evaluate— (A) the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting industry voluntary standards or any other construction as reported by the Secretary in the interim assessments included in reports provided under paragraph (4); and (B) the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire as reported by the Secretary in the interim knowledge and operational reports provided under paragraph (4). (6) Learning Period Beginning on December 31, 2023, the Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without regard to paragraph (2)(C) and (D). The development of any such regulations shall take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified through the reports published under paragraphs (3) and (4). (7) Communication and Transparency Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to discuss potential approaches, potential performance standards, or any other topic related to this subsection with the commercial space industry including observations, findings, and recommendations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, prior to the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Such discussions shall not be construed to permit the Secretary to promulgate industry regulations except as otherwise provided in this section. . 3. International launch competitiveness (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to provide for updating the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, with a validated risk profile approach to provide reasonable maximum probable loss values associated with potential third party losses from commercially licensed launches. An appropriately updated methodology will help ensure that the Federal Government is not exposed to greater financial risks than intended and that launch companies are not required to purchase more insurance coverage than necessary. (b) Maximum probable loss plan Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan to update the methodology used to calculate maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, through the use of a validated risk profile approach. Such plan shall include, at a minimum— (1) an evaluation of the reasonableness of the current single casualty estimate and, if needed, the steps the Secretary will take to update such estimate; (2) an evaluation, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the heads of other relevant executive agencies, of the reasonableness of the dollar value of the insurance requirement required by the Secretary for launch providers to cover damage to Government property resulting from a commercially licensed space launch activity, and recommendations as to a reasonable calculation if, as determined by the Secretary, the current statutory threshold is insufficient; (3) a schedule of when updates to the methodology and calculations for the totality of the Maximum Probable Loss will be implemented, and a detailed explanation of any changes to the current calculation; and (4) consideration of the impact of the cost of its implementation on the licensing process, both in terms of the cost to industry of collecting and providing the requisite data and cost to the Government of analyzing the data. (c) Independent assessment Not later than 270 days after transmittal of the plan under subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of— (1) the conclusions and analysis provided by the Secretary of Transportation in the plan required under subsection (b); (2) the implementation schedule proposed by the Secretary in such plan; (3) the suitability of the plan for implementation; and (4) any further actions needed to implement the plan or otherwise accomplish the purpose of this section. (d) Launch liability extension Section 50915(f) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking December 31, 2016 and inserting December 31, 2023 . 4. Launch license flexibility 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 shall not invalidate a permit under this section. . 5. Government astronauts (a) Definitions Section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as paragraphs (5) through (23), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) government astronaut means an individual designated as such by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, pursuant requirements established by the Administrator, who— (A) is an employee of— (i) the United States Government, including the United States Armed Forces; or (ii) a foreign government that is a party to the Intergovernmental Agreement Among the Government of Canada, Governments of Member States of the European Space Agency, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the United States of America Concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station, signed on January 29, 1998; and (B) is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. ; (3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronaut, after crew, ; (4) in paragraph (7)(A), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronaut, after (including crew training), ; (5) in paragraph (14), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronauts, after crew, ; (6) in paragraph (15)(A), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronaut, after (including crew training), ; (7) by amending paragraph (18), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, to read as follows: (18) space flight participant means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. ; and (8) in paragraph (22)(E), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting , government astronauts, after crew . (b) Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries; single license or permit Section 50904(d) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting , government astronauts, after crew . (c) License applications and requirements; applications Section 50905 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking crews and space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants ; (2) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting , government astronauts, after crew ; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , government astronauts, after crew ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . (d) Monitoring activities Section 50907(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking crew or space flight participant training and inserting crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant training . (e) Additional suspensions Section 50908(d)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . 6. Indemnification for space flight participants Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 50914(a)(4), by adding at the end the following: (E) space flight participants. ; and (2) in section 50915(a)(1)— (A) by striking or a contractor and inserting a contractor ; and (B) by striking but not against and inserting or . 7. Federal jurisdiction Section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Federal jurisdiction Any action or tort arising from a licensed launch or reentry shall be the sole jurisdiction of the Federal courts and shall be decided under Federal law. . 8. Cross-waivers Section 50914(b)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (1) A launch or reentry license issued or transferred under this chapter shall contain a provision requiring the licensee or transferee to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with its contractors, subcontractors, and customers, the contractors and subcontractors of the customers, and any space flight participants, involved in launch services or reentry services or participating in a flight under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible for property damage or loss it or they sustain, or for personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by its own employees resulting from an activity carried out under the applicable license. . 9. Orbital traffic management (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that, as none currently exists, there may be a need for a framework that addresses space traffic management of United States Government assets and United States private sector assets to minimize the proliferation of debris and decrease the congestion of the orbital environment. (b) Study Required Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall enter into an arrangement with an independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities. The study shall include the following: (1) An assessment of current regulations, Government best practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation. (2) An assessment of current statutory authority granted to the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and how those agencies utilize and coordinate those authorities. (3) A review of all space traffic management and orbital debris requirements under treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory, and other nonbinding international arrangements in which the United States participates, and the manner in which the Federal Government complies with those requirements. (4) An assessment of existing Federal Government assets used to conduct space traffic management and space situational awareness. (5) An assessment of the risk associated with smallsats as well as any necessary Government coordination for their launch and utilization. (6) An assessment of existing private sector information sharing activities associated with space situational awareness and space traffic management. (7) Recommendations related to the framework for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and economic vitality of the space industry. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the report required in subsection (b). (d) Department of Defense authorities Congress recognizes the vital and unique role played by the Department of Defense in protecting national security assets in space. Nothing in this section shall be construed to amend authorities granted to the Department of Defense to safeguard the national security. 10. State commercial launch facilities It is the Sense of Congress that State involvement, development, ownership, and operation of launch facilities can help enable growth of the Nation’s commercial suborbital and orbital space endeavors and support both commercial and Government space programs. It is further the sense of Congress that State launch facilities and the people and property within the affected launch areas of those State facilities are subject to risks if the commercial launch vehicle fails or experiences an anomaly. To ensure the success of the commercial launch industry and the safety of the people and property in the affected launch areas, it is the further sense of Congress that States and State launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to secure their investments and the safety of third parties from potential damages that could be suffered from commercial launch activities.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 85 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2262 [Report No. 114–119] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 12, 2015 Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas , Mr. Palazzo , Mr. Rohrabacher , Mr. Lucas , Mr. McCaul , Mr. Posey , Mr. Knight , Mr. Babin , Mr. Hultgren , Mr. Bridenstine , Mr. Weber of Texas , and Mr. Moolenaar ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology May 18, 2015 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 12, 2015 A BILL To facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or the SPACE Act of 2015 . 2. Consensus standards Section 50905(c) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (3); (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (8); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Interim Industry Voluntary Consensus Standards Report The Secretary, in consultation with the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus standards or any other construction that promotes best practices to improve the industry. Such report shall include, at a minimum— (A) any voluntary industry consensus standards or any other construction that have been accepted by the industry at large; (B) the identification of areas that have the potential to become voluntary industry consensus standards or another potential construction that are currently under consideration by the industry at large; (C) an assessment from the Secretary on the general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary consensus standards or any other construction; (D) lessons learned about voluntary industry consensus standards or any other construction, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; (E) any lessons learned associated with the development, potential application, and acceptance of voluntary industry consensus standards or any other construction, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; and (F) recommendations, findings, or observations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, on the progress of the industry in developing industry consensus standards or any other construction. This report, with the appropriate updates in the intervening periods, shall be transmitted to such committees no later than December 31, 2016, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Each report shall describe and assess the progress achieved as of 6 months prior to the specified transmittal date. (4) Interim Report on Knowledge and Operational Experience The Secretary shall provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the of the Senate on the status of the knowledge and operational experience acquired by the industry while providing flight services for compensation or hire to support the development of a safety framework. Interim reports shall by transmitted to such committees no later than December 31, 2018, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Each report shall describe and assess the progress achieved as of 6 months prior to the specified transmittal date. (5) Independent Review No later than December 31, 2023, an independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the readiness of the commercial space industry and the Federal Government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. As part of the review, the contracted organization shall evaluate— (A) the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting industry voluntary standards or any other construction as reported by the Secretary in the interim assessments included in reports provided under paragraph (4); and (B) the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire as reported by the Secretary in the interim knowledge and operational reports provided under paragraph (4). (6) Learning Period Beginning on December 31, 2025, the Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without regard to paragraph (2)(C) and (D). The development of any such regulations shall take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified through the reports published under paragraphs (3) and (4). (7) Communication and Transparency Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to discuss potential approaches, potential performance standards, or any other topic related to this subsection with the commercial space industry including observations, findings, and recommendations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, prior to the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Such discussions shall not be construed to permit the Secretary to promulgate industry regulations except as otherwise provided in this section. . 3. International launch competitiveness (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to provide for updating the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, with a validated risk profile approach to provide reasonable maximum probable loss values associated with potential third party losses from commercially licensed launches. An appropriately updated methodology will help ensure that the Federal Government is not exposed to greater financial risks than intended and that launch companies are not required to purchase more insurance coverage than necessary. (b) Maximum probable loss plan Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan to update the methodology used to calculate maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, through the use of a validated risk profile approach. Such plan shall include, at a minimum— (1) an evaluation of the reasonableness of the current single casualty estimate and, if needed, the steps the Secretary will take to update such estimate; (2) an evaluation, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the heads of other relevant executive agencies, of the reasonableness of the dollar value of the insurance requirement required by the Secretary for launch providers to cover damage to Government property resulting from a commercially licensed space launch activity, and recommendations as to a reasonable calculation if, as determined by the Secretary, the current statutory threshold is insufficient; (3) a schedule of when updates to the methodology and calculations for the totality of the Maximum Probable Loss will be implemented, and a detailed explanation of any changes to the current calculation; and (4) consideration of the impact of the cost of its implementation on the licensing process, both in terms of the cost to industry of collecting and providing the requisite data and cost to the Government of analyzing the data. (c) Independent assessment Not later than 270 days after transmittal of the plan under subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of— (1) the conclusions and analysis provided by the Secretary of Transportation in the plan required under subsection (b); (2) the implementation schedule proposed by the Secretary in such plan; (3) the suitability of the plan for implementation; and (4) any further actions needed to implement the plan or otherwise accomplish the purpose of this section. (d) Launch liability extension Section 50915(f) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking December 31, 2016 and inserting December 31, 2025 . 4. Launch license flexibility 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 shall not invalidate a permit under this section. . 5. Government astronauts (a) Definitions Section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as paragraphs (5) through (23), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) government astronaut means an individual designated as such by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, pursuant requirements established by the Administrator, who— (A) is an employee of— (i) the United States Government, including the United States Armed Forces; or (ii) a foreign government that is a party to the Intergovernmental Agreement Among the Government of Canada, Governments of Member States of the European Space Agency, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the United States of America Concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station, signed on January 29, 1998; and (B) is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. ; (3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronaut, after crew, ; (4) in paragraph (7)(A), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronaut, after (including crew training), ; (5) in paragraph (14), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronauts, after crew, ; (6) in paragraph (15)(A), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting government astronaut, after (including crew training), ; (7) by amending paragraph (18), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, to read as follows: (18) space flight participant means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. ; and (8) in paragraph (22)(E), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting , government astronauts, after crew . (b) Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries; single license or permit Section 50904(d) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting , government astronauts, after crew . (c) License applications and requirements; applications Section 50905 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking crews and space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants ; (2) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting , government astronauts, after crew ; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , government astronauts, after crew ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . (d) Monitoring activities Section 50907(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking crew or space flight participant training and inserting crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant training . (e) Additional suspensions Section 50908(d)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . 6. Indemnification for space flight participants Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 50914(a)(4), by adding at the end the following: (E) space flight participants. ; and (2) in section 50915(a)(1)— (A) by striking or a contractor and inserting a contractor ; and (B) by striking but not against and inserting or . 7. Federal jurisdiction Section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Federal jurisdiction Any action or tort arising from a licensed launch or reentry shall be the sole jurisdiction of the Federal courts and shall be decided under Federal law. . 8. Cross-waivers Section 50914(b)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (1) A launch or reentry license issued or transferred under this chapter shall contain a provision requiring the licensee or transferee to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with its contractors, subcontractors, and customers, the contractors and subcontractors of the customers, and any space flight participants, involved in launch services or reentry services or participating in a flight under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible for property damage or loss it or they sustain, or for personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by its own employees resulting from an activity carried out under the applicable license. . 9. Orbital traffic management (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that, as none currently exists, there may be a need for a framework that addresses space traffic management of United States Government assets and United States private sector assets to minimize the proliferation of debris and decrease the congestion of the orbital environment. (b) Study Required Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall enter into an arrangement with an independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities. The study shall include the following: (1) An assessment of current regulations, Government best practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation. (2) An assessment of current statutory authority granted to the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and how those agencies utilize and coordinate those authorities. (3) A review of all space traffic management and orbital debris requirements under treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory, and other nonbinding international arrangements in which the United States participates, and the manner in which the Federal Government complies with those requirements. (4) An assessment of existing Federal Government assets used to conduct space traffic management and space situational awareness. (5) An assessment of the risk associated with smallsats as well as any necessary Government coordination for their launch and utilization. (6) An assessment of existing private sector information sharing activities associated with space situational awareness and space traffic management. (7) Recommendations related to the framework for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and economic vitality of the space industry. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the report required in subsection (b). (d) Department of Defense authorities Congress recognizes the vital and unique role played by the Department of Defense in protecting national security assets in space. Nothing in this section shall be construed to amend authorities granted to the Department of Defense to safeguard the national security. 10. State commercial launch facilities It is the Sense of Congress that State involvement, development, ownership, and operation of launch facilities can help enable growth of the Nation’s commercial suborbital and orbital space endeavors and support both commercial and Government space programs. It is further the sense of Congress that State launch facilities and the people and property within the affected launch areas of those State facilities are subject to risks if the commercial launch vehicle fails or experiences an anomaly. To ensure the success of the commercial launch industry and the safety of the people and property in the affected launch areas, it is the further sense of Congress that States and State launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to secure their investments and the safety of third parties from potential damages that could be suffered from commercial launch activities. 11. Space support vehicles study Not less than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. This report shall include— (1) the extent to which launch providers rely on such services as part of their business models; (2) the statutory, regulatory, and market barriers to the use of such services; and (3) recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be needed to ensure reduced barriers to the use of such services if such use is a requirement of the industry. 12. Streamline commercial space launch activities (a) Sense of congress It is the sense of Congress that eliminating duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations will promote and encourage the development of the commercial space sector. (b) Reaffirmation of policy Congress reaffirms that the Secretary of Transportation, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should— (1) promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector; (2) facilitate Government, State, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities; (3) protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and (4) consult with the head of another executive agency, including the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as necessary to provide consistent application of licensing requirements under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code. (c) Requirements (1) In general The Secretary of Transportation under section 50918 of title 51, United States Code, and subject to section 50905(b)(2)(C) of that title, shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate— (A) to identify all requirements that are imposed to protect the public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle; and (B) to evaluate the requirements identified in subparagraph (A) and, in coordination with the licensee or transferee and the heads of the relevant executive agencies— (i) determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency; and (ii) resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle. (2) Reports Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Secretary of Transportation determines no outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government exist, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the commercial space sector, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: (A) A description of the process for the application for and approval of a permit or license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, for the commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, including the identification of— (i) any unique requirements for operating on a United States Government launch site, reentry site, or launch property; and (ii) any inconsistent, outmoded, or duplicative requirements or approvals. (B) A description of current efforts, if any, to coordinate and work across executive agencies to define interagency processes and procedures for sharing information, avoiding duplication of effort, and resolving common agency requirements. (C) Recommendations for legislation that may further— (i) streamline requirements in order to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints; and (ii) consolidate or modify requirements across affected agencies into a single application set that satisfies the requirements identified in paragraph (1)(A). (3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) any applicable definitions set forth in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, shall apply; (B) the terms launch , reenter , and reentry include landing of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and (C) the terms United States Government launch site and United States Government reentry site include any necessary facility, at that location, that is commercially operated on United States Government property. 13. Space Launch System update (a) Chapter 701 (1) Amendment The chapter heading of chapter 701 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking Space Shuttle and inserting Space Launch System . (2) Conforming amendment The item relating to chapter 701 in the table of chapters at the beginning of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking Space Shuttle and inserting Space Launch System . (b) Section 70101 (1) Amendments Section 70101 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 and inserting Space Launch System . (2) Conforming amendment The item relating section 70101 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 . (c) Section 70102 (1) Amendments Section 70102 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking Space shuttle and inserting Space Launch System ; (B) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking space shuttle both places it appears and inserting 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 System ; (G) in subsection (c), by striking space shuttle and inserting Space Launch System ; and (H) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Definition In this section, the term Space Launch System means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010. . (2) Conforming amendment The item relating 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 System . (2) Conforming amendment The item relating 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 .

May 18, 2015 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H.R. 2262 In the Senate of the United States, November 10, 2015. Amendment:

That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 2262) entitled An Act to facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other purposes. , do pass with the following Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 1. Short title; table of contents; references (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references. TITLE I—Spurring private aerospace competitiveness and entrepreneurship Sec. 101. Short title. Sec. 102. International launch competitiveness. Sec. 103. Indemnification for space flight participants. Sec. 104. Launch license flexibility. Sec. 105. Licensing report. Sec. 106. Federal jurisdiction. Sec. 107. Cross waivers. Sec. 108. Space authority. Sec. 109. Orbital traffic management. Sec. 110. Space surveillance and situational awareness data. Sec. 111. Consensus standards and extension of certain safety regulation requirements. Sec. 112. Government astronauts. Sec. 113. Streamline commercial space launch activities. Sec. 114. Operation and utilization of the ISS. Sec. 115. State commercial launch facilities. Sec. 116. Space support vehicles study. Sec. 117. Space launch system update. TITLE II—Commercial remote sensing Sec. 201. Annual reports. Sec. 202. Statutory update report. TITLE III—Office of space commerce Sec. 301. Renaming of office of space commercialization. Sec. 302. Functions of the office of space commerce. TITLE IV—Space resource exploration and utilization Sec. 401. Short title. Sec. 402. Title 51 amendment. Sec. 403. Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty. (c) References to title 51, United States Code Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 51, United States Code. I Spurring private aerospace competitiveness and entrepreneurship 101. Short title This title may be cited as the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or SPACE Act of 2015 . 102. International launch competitiveness (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it is in the public interest to update the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, with a validated risk profile approach in order to consistently compute valid and reasonable maximum probable loss values. (b) Implementation Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the commercial space sector and insurance providers, shall— (1) evaluate the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, and, if necessary, develop a plan to update that methodology; (2) in evaluating or developing a plan under paragraph (1)— (A) ensure that the Federal Government is not exposed to greater costs than intended and that launch companies are not required to purchase more insurance coverage than necessary; and (B) consider the impact of the cost to both the industry and the Government of implementing an updated methodology; and (3) submit the evaluation, and any plan, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. (c) Independent assessment Not later than 270 days after the date the evaluation is submitted under subsection (b)(3), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of— (1) the analysis and conclusions provided by the Secretary of Transportation in the evaluation, and any plan, under subsection (b); (2) the implementation schedule proposed by the Secretary in the plan described in paragraph (1); (3) the suitability of the plan described in paragraph (1) for implementation; and (4) any further actions needed to implement the plan described in paragraph (1) or otherwise accomplish the purpose of this section. (d) Launch liability extension Section 50915(f) is amended by striking December 31, 2016 and inserting September 30, 2025 . 103. Indemnification for space flight participants (a) In general Chapter 509 is amended— (1) in section 50914(a)— (A) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: (E) space flight participants. ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (5) Subparagraph (E) of paragraph (4) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025. ; and (2) in section 50915(a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking a licensee or transferee under this chapter, a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of the licensee or transferee, or a contractor or subcontractor of a customer, but not against a space flight participant, and inserting a person described in paragraph (3)(A) ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (3) (A) A person described in this subparagraph is— (i) a licensee or transferee under this chapter; (ii) a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of the licensee or transferee; (iii) a contractor or subcontractor of a customer; or (iv) a space flight participant. (B) Clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025. . 104. Launch license flexibility Section 50906 is amended— (1) in subsection (d)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking that will be launched or reentered and inserting or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered under that permit ; (B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques; ; and (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking prior to obtaining a license ; and (ii) by inserting or vehicle after design of the rocket ; (2) in subsection (e)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking suborbital rocket design and inserting suborbital rocket or suborbital rocket design, or for a particular reusable launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design, ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting or launch vehicle after the suborbital rocket ; (3) 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 issued under this section. ; and (4) in subsection (h), by inserting or reusable launch vehicle after suborbital rocket . 105. Licensing report Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on approaches for streamlining the licensing and permitting process of launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or components of launch or reentry vehicles, to enable non-launch flight operations related to space transportation. The report shall include approaches to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints. The report shall also include an assessment of existing private and government infrastructure, as appropriate, in future licensing activities. 106. Federal jurisdiction Section 50914 is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Federal jurisdiction Any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the license shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts. . 107. Cross waivers Section 50914(b)(1) is amended to read as follows: (1) (A) A launch or reentry license issued or transferred under this chapter shall contain a provision requiring the licensee or transferee to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with applicable parties involved in launch services or reentry services under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible for personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by it or its own employees resulting from an activity carried out under the applicable license. (B) In this paragraph, the term applicable parties means— (i) contractors, subcontractors, and customers of the licensee or transferee; (ii) contractors and subcontractors of the customers; and (iii) space flight participants. (C) Clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025. . 108. Space authority (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and the commercial space sector, shall— (1) assess current, and proposed near-term, commercial non-governmental activities conducted in space; (2) identify appropriate authorization and supervision authorities for the activities described in paragraph (1); (3) recommend an authorization and supervision approach that would prioritize safety, utilize existing authorities, minimize burdens to the industry, promote the U.S. commercial space sector, and meet the United States obligations under international treaties; and (4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the activities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). (b) Exception Nothing in this section shall apply to the activities of the ISS national laboratory as described in section 504 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18354 ), including any research or development projects utilizing the ISS national laboratory. 109. Orbital traffic management (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that an improved framework may be necessary for space traffic management of United States Government assets and United States private sector assets in outer space and orbital debris mitigation. (b) Study Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense, shall enter into an arrangement with an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study alternate frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities. (c) Contents The study shall include the following: (1) An assessment of current regulations, best practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation. (2) An assessment of current statutory authorities granted to the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation and how those agencies utilize and coordinate those authorities. (3) A review of all space traffic management and orbital debris requirements under treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory, and other nonbinding international arrangements in which the United States participates, and the manner and extent to which the Federal Government complies with those requirements and arrangements. (4) An assessment of existing Federal Government assets used to conduct space traffic management and space situational awareness. (5) An assessment of the risk to space traffic management associated with smallsats and any necessary Government coordination for their launch and utilization to avoid congestion of the orbital environment and improve space situational awareness. (6) An assessment of existing private sector information sharing activities associated with space situational awareness and space traffic management. (7) Recommendations related to the appropriate framework for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and economic vitality of the space industry. (d) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives the study required in subsection (b). (e) Department of Defense authorities (1) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense plays a vital and unique role in protecting national security assets in space. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary of Defense as it relates to safeguarding the national security. 110. Space surveillance and situational awareness data Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation in concurrence with the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, study the feasibility of processing and releasing safety-related space situational awareness data and information to any entity consistent with national security interests and public safety obligations of the United States; and (2) submit a report on the feasibility study to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. 111. Consensus standards and extension of certain safety regulation requirements Section 50905(c) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting In general .— before The Secretary ; (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting Regulations .— before Regulations ; (3) by striking paragraph (3); (4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (10); (5) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Facilitation of standards The Secretary shall continue to work with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, to facilitate the development of voluntary industry consensus standards based on recommended best practices to improve the safety of crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants as the commercial space sector continues to mature. (4) Communication and transparency Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to discuss potential regulatory approaches, potential performance standards, or any other topic related to this subsection with the commercial space industry, including observations, findings, and recommendations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, prior to the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Such discussions shall not be construed to permit the Secretary to promulgate industry regulations except as otherwise provided in this section. (5) Interim voluntary industry consensus standards reports (A) In general Not later than December 31, 2016, and every 30 months thereafter until December 31, 2021, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. (B) Contents The report shall include, at a minimum— (i) any voluntary industry consensus standards that have been accepted by the industry at large; (ii) the identification of areas that have the potential to become voluntary industry consensus standards that are currently under consideration by the industry at large; (iii) an assessment from the Secretary on the general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards; (iv) any lessons learned about voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; (v) any lessons learned associated with the development, potential application, and acceptance of voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; and (vi) recommendations, findings, or observations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, on the progress of the industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. (6) Report Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the SPACE Act of 2015 , the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report specifying key industry metrics that might indicate readiness of the commercial space sector and the Department of Transportation to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations under paragraph (9) that considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and crew safety. (7) Reports Not later than March 31 of each of 2018 and 2022, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that identifies the activities, described in this subsection and subsection (d) most appropriate for a new safety framework that may include regulatory action, if any, and a proposed transition plan for such safety framework. (8) Independent review Not later than December 31, 2022, an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of the readiness of the commercial space industry and the Federal Government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. As part of the review, the contracted organization shall evaluate— (A) the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards as reported by the Secretary in the interim assessments included in the reports under paragraph (5); (B) the progress of the commercial space industry toward meeting the key industry metrics identified by the report under paragraph (6), including the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire; and (C) whether the areas identified in the reports under paragraph (5) are appropriate for regulatory action, or further development of voluntary industry consensus standards, considering the progress evaluated in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph. (9) Learning period Beginning on October 1, 2023, the Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without regard to subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (2). The development of any such regulations shall take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified in the reports published under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7). ; and (6) in paragraph (10), as redesignated, by inserting Rule of construction .— before Nothing . 112. Government astronauts (a) Findings and purpose Section 50901(15) is amended by inserting , government astronauts, after crew each place it appears. (b) Sense of Congress The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has a need to fly government astronauts (as defined in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, as amended) within commercial launch vehicles and reentry vehicles under chapter 509 of that title. This need was identified by the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration due to the intended use of commercial launch vehicles and reentry vehicles developed under the Commercial Crew Development Program, authorized in section 402 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2820; Public Law 111–267 ). It is the sense of Congress that the authority delegated to the Administration by the amendment made by subsection (d) of this section should be used for that purpose. (c) Definition of government astronaut Section 50902 is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as paragraphs (7) through (25), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) government astronaut means an individual who— (A) is designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under section 20113(n); (B) is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and (C) is either— (i) an employee of the United States Government, including the uniformed services, engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; or (ii) an international partner astronaut. (5) international partner astronaut means an individual designated under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement, by a partner to that agreement other than the United States, as qualified to serve as an International Space Station crew member. (6) International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington January 29, 1998 (TIAS 12927). . (d) Powers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in performance of functions Section 20113 is amended by adding at the end the following: (n) Identification of government astronauts For purposes of a license issued or transferred by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 509 to launch a launch vehicle or to reenter a reentry vehicle carrying a government astronaut (as defined in section 50902), the Administration shall designate a government astronaut in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Administration. . (e) Definition of launch Paragraph (7) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking and any payload, crew, or space flight participant and inserting and any payload or human being . (f) Definition of launch services Paragraph (9) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant and inserting payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant . (g) Definition of reenter and reentry Paragraph (16) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking and its payload, crew, or space flight participants, if any, and inserting and its payload or human beings, if any, . (h) Definition of reentry services Paragraph (17) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant, if any, and inserting payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any, . (i) Definition of space flight participant Paragraph (20) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended to read as follows: (20) space flight participant means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. . (j) Definition of third party Paragraph (24)(E) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by inserting , government astronauts, after crew . (k) Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries; single license or permit Section 50904(d) is amended by striking activities involving crew or space flight participants and inserting activities involving crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . (l) License applications and requirements; applications Section 50905 is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking crews and space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants ; (2) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by striking crew or space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants ; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking crew and space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . (m) Monitoring activities Section 50907(a) is amended by striking at a site used for crew or space flight participant training and inserting at a site not owned or operated by the Federal Government or a foreign government used for crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant training . (n) Additional suspensions Section 50908(d)(1) is amended by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to any human being . (o) Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations; nonapplication Section 50919(g) is amended to read as follows: (g) Nonapplication (1) In general This chapter does not apply to— (A) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or (B) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity under subparagraph (A). (2) Rule of construction The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under paragraph (1): (A) A government astronaut being carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter. (B) A government astronaut performing activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter. . 113. Streamline commercial space launch activities (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that eliminating duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations will promote and encourage the development of the commercial space sector. (b) Reaffirmation of policy Congress reaffirms that the Secretary of Transportation, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should— (1) promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector; (2) facilitate Government, State, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities; (3) protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and (4) consult with the head of another executive agency, including the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as necessary to provide consistent application of licensing requirements under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code. (c) Requirements (1) In general The Secretary of Transportation under section 50918 of title 51, United States Code, and subject to section 50905(b)(2)(C) of that title, shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate— (A) to identify all requirements that are imposed to protect the public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle; and (B) to evaluate the requirements identified in subparagraph (A) and, in coordination with the licensee or transferee and the heads of the relevant executive agencies— (i) determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency; and (ii) resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle. (2) Reports Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Secretary of Transportation determines no outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government exist, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the commercial space sector, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: (A) A description of the process for the application for and approval of a permit or license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, for the commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, including the identification of— (i) any unique requirements for operating on a United States Government launch site, reentry site, or launch property; and (ii) any inconsistent, outmoded, or duplicative requirements or approvals. (B) A description of current efforts, if any, to coordinate and work across executive agencies to define interagency processes and procedures for sharing information, avoiding duplication of effort, and resolving common agency requirements. (C) Recommendations for legislation that may further— (i) streamline requirements in order to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints; and (ii) consolidate or modify requirements across affected agencies into a single application set that satisfies the requirements identified in paragraph (1)(A). (3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) any applicable definitions set forth in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, shall apply; (B) the terms launch , reenter , and reentry include landing of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and (C) the terms United States Government launch site and United States Government reentry site include any necessary facility, at that location, that is commercially operated on United States Government property. 114. Operation and utilization of the ISS (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) maximum utilization of partnerships, scientific research, commercial applications, and exploration test bed capabilities of the ISS is essential to ensuring the greatest return on investments made by the United States and its international partners in the development, assembly, and operations of that unique facility; and (2) every effort should be made to ensure that decisions regarding the service life of the ISS are based on the station's projected capability to continue providing effective and productive research and exploration test bed capabilities. (b) Continuation of the International Space Station (1) In general Section 501 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18351 ) is amended— (A) in the heading, by striking through 2020 ; and (B) in subsection (a), by striking through at least 2020 and inserting through at least 2024 . (2) Maintenance of the United States segment and assurance of continued operations of the International Space Station Section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18353 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking through at least September 30, 2020 and inserting through at least September 30, 2024 ; and (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator and inserting The Administrator . (3) Research capacity allocation and integration of research payloads Section 504(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18354(d) ) is amended by striking September 30, 2020 each place it appears and inserting at least September 30, 2024 . (4) Maintaining use through at least 2024 Section 70907 is amended to read as follows: 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024 (a) Policy The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the International Space Station remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential United States utilization through at least September 30, 2024. (b) NASA actions In furtherance of the policy under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the International Space Station, as a designated national laboratory— (1) remains viable as an element of overall exploration and partnership strategies and approaches; (2) is considered for use by all NASA mission directorates, as appropriate, for technically appropriate scientific data gathering or technology risk reduction demonstrations; and (3) remains an effective, functional vehicle providing research and test bed capabilities for the United States through at least September 30, 2024. . (5) Technical and conforming amendments (A) Table of contents of 2010 Act The item relating to section 501 in the table of contents in section 1(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2806) is amended by striking through 2020 . (B) Table of contents of chapter 709 The table of contents for chapter 709 is amended by amending the item relating to section 70907 to read as follows: 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024. . 115. State commercial launch facilities (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) State involvement, development, ownership, and operation of launch facilities can enable growth of the Nation's commercial suborbital and orbital space endeavors and support both commercial and Government space programs; (2) State launch facilities and the people and property in the affected launch areas of those facilities may be subject to risks resulting from an activity carried out under a license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code; and (3) to ensure the success of the commercial launch industry and the safety of the people and property in the affected launch areas of those facilities, States and State launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to protect themselves, to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services or reentry services, and compensate third parties for possible death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under a license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, to which the State or State launch facility is involved in the launch services or reentry services. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the potential inclusion of all government property, including State and municipal property, in the existing indemnification regime established under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code. 116. Space support vehicles study (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. (b) Contents This report shall include— (1) the extent to which launch providers rely on such services as part of their business models; (2) the statutory, regulatory, and market barriers to the use of such services; and (3) recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be needed to ensure reduced barriers to the use of such services if such use is a requirement of the industry. 117. Space launch system update (a) In general Chapter 701 is amended— (1) in the heading by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; (2) in section 70101— (A) in the heading, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; and (B) by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; (3) by amending section 70102 to read as follows: 70102. Space launch system use policy (a) In general The Space Launch System may be used for the following circumstances: (1) Payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System. (2) Other payloads and missions that substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System. (3) On a space available basis, Federal Government or educational payloads that are consistent with NASA’s mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. (4) Compelling circumstances, as determined by the Administrator. (b) Agreements with foreign entities The Administrator may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology using the Space Launch System. (c) Compelling circumstances Not later than 30 days after the date the Administrator makes a determination under subsection (a)(4), the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives written notification of the Administrator’s intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission under that subsection, including justification for the determination. ; (4) in section 70103— (A) in the heading, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; and (B) in subsection (b), by striking space shuttle each place it appears and inserting space launch system ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: 70104. Definition of Space Launch System In this chapter, the term Space Launch System means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322 ). . (b) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51 is amended by amending the item relating to chapter 701 to read as follows: 701. Use of space launch system or alternatives 70101 . (2) Table of contents of chapter 701 The table of contents of chapter 701 is amended— (A) in the item relating to section 70101, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; (B) in the item relating to section 70102, by striking Space shuttle and inserting Space launch system ; (C) in the item relating to section 70103, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: 70104. Definition of Space Launch System. . (3) Requirement to procure commercial space transportation services Section 50131(a) of chapter 51 is amended by inserting or in section 70102 after in this section . II Commercial remote sensing 201. Annual reports (a) In general Subchapter III of chapter 601 is amended by adding at the end the following: 60126. Annual reports (a) In general The Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act , and annually thereafter, on— (1) the Secretary's implementation of section 60121, including— (A) a list of all applications received in the previous calendar year; (B) a list of all applications that resulted in a license under section 60121; (C) a list of all applications denied and an explanation of why each application was denied, 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 disposition exceeded the 120 day deadline established in section 60121(c), the total days overdue for each application that exceeded such deadline, and an explanation for the delay; (2) all notifications and information provided to the Secretary under section 60122; and (3) a description of all actions taken by the Secretary under the administrative authority granted by paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of section 60123(a). (b) Classified annexes Each report under subsection (a) may include classified annexes as necessary to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information. (c) Sunset The reporting requirement under this section terminates effective September 30, 2020. . (b) Table of contents The table of contents of chapter 601 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 60125 the following: 60126. Annual reports. . 202. Statutory update report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on statutory updates necessary to license private remote sensing space systems. In preparing the report, the Secretary shall take into account the need to protect national security while maintaining United States private sector leadership in the field, and reflect the current state of the art of remote sensing systems, instruments, or technologies. III Office of space commerce 301. Renaming of office of space commercialization (a) Chapter heading (1) Amendment The heading for chapter 507 is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . (2) Conforming amendment The item relating to chapter 507 in the table of chapters for title 51 is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . (b) Definition of office Section 50701 is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . (c) Renaming Section 50702(a) is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . 302. Functions of the office of space commerce Section 50702(c) is amended by striking Commerce. and inserting Commerce, including— (1) to foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the United States space commerce industry; (2) to coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within the Department of Commerce; (3) to represent the Department of Commerce in the development of United States policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote United States space commerce; (4) to promote the advancement of United States geospatial technologies related to space commerce, in cooperation with relevant interagency working groups; and (5) to provide support to Federal Government organizations working on Space-Based Positioning Navigation, and Timing policy, including the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Position, Navigation, and Timing. . IV Space resource exploration and utilization 401. Short title This title may be cited as the Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015 . 402. Title 51 amendment (a) In general Subtitle V is amended by adding at the end the following: 513 Space resource commercial exploration and utilization Sec. 51301. Definitions. 51302. Commercial exploration and commercial recovery. 51303. Asteroid resource and space resource rights. 51301. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Asteroid resource The term asteroid resource means a space resource found on or within a single asteroid. (2) Space resource (A) In general The term space resource means an abiotic resource in situ in outer space. (B) Inclusions The term space resource includes water and minerals. (3) United States citizen The term United States citizen has the meaning given the term citizen of the United States in section 50902. 51302. Commercial exploration and commercial recovery (a) In general The President, acting through appropriate Federal agencies, shall— (1) facilitate commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens; (2) discourage government barriers to the development in the United States of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with the international obligations of the United States; and (3) promote the right of United States citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with the international obligations of the United States and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall submit to Congress a report on commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens that specifies— (1) the authorities necessary to meet the international obligations of the United States, including authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government; and (2) recommendations for the allocation of responsibilities among Federal agencies for the activities described in paragraph (1). 51303. Asteroid resource and space resource rights A United States citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource under this chapter shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell the asteroid resource or space resource obtained in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of the United States. . (b) Table of chapters The table of chapters for title 51 is amended by adding at the end of the items for subtitle V the following: 513. Space resource commercial exploration and utilization 51301 . 403. Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty It is the sense of Congress that by the enactment of this Act, the United States does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any celestial body.

Secretary

tv_txt: I One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the sixth day of January, two thousand and fifteen H. R. 2262 AN ACT To facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents; references (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references. TITLE I—Spurring private aerospace competitiveness and entrepreneurship Sec. 101. Short title. Sec. 102. International launch competitiveness. Sec. 103. Indemnification for space flight participants. Sec. 104. Launch license flexibility. Sec. 105. Licensing report. Sec. 106. Federal jurisdiction. Sec. 107. Cross waivers. Sec. 108. Space authority. Sec. 109. Orbital traffic management. Sec. 110. Space surveillance and situational awareness data. Sec. 111. Consensus standards and extension of certain safety regulation requirements. Sec. 112. Government astronauts. Sec. 113. Streamline commercial space launch activities. Sec. 114. Operation and utilization of the ISS. Sec. 115. State commercial launch facilities. Sec. 116. Space support vehicles study. Sec. 117. Space launch system update. TITLE II—Commercial remote sensing Sec. 201. Annual reports. Sec. 202. Statutory update report. TITLE III—Office of space commerce Sec. 301. Renaming of office of space commercialization. Sec. 302. Functions of the office of space commerce. TITLE IV—Space resource exploration and utilization Sec. 401. Short title. Sec. 402. Title 51 amendment. Sec. 403. Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty. (c) References to title 51, United States Code Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 51, United States Code. I Spurring private aerospace competitiveness and entrepreneurship 101. Short title This title may be cited as the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or SPACE Act of 2015 . 102. International launch competitiveness (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it is in the public interest to update the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, with a validated risk profile approach in order to consistently compute valid and reasonable maximum probable loss values. (b) Implementation Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the commercial space sector and insurance providers, shall— (1) evaluate the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, and, if necessary, develop a plan to update that methodology; (2) in evaluating or developing a plan under paragraph (1)— (A) ensure that the Federal Government is not exposed to greater costs than intended and that launch companies are not required to purchase more insurance coverage than necessary; and (B) consider the impact of the cost to both the industry and the Government of implementing an updated methodology; and (3) submit the evaluation, and any plan, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. (c) Independent assessment Not later than 270 days after the date the evaluation is submitted under subsection (b)(3), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of— (1) the analysis and conclusions provided by the Secretary of Transportation in the evaluation, and any plan, under subsection (b); (2) the implementation schedule proposed by the Secretary in the plan described in paragraph (1); (3) the suitability of the plan described in paragraph (1) for implementation; and (4) any further actions needed to implement the plan described in paragraph (1) or otherwise accomplish the purpose of this section. (d) Launch liability extension Section 50915(f) is amended by striking December 31, 2016 and inserting September 30, 2025 . 103. Indemnification for space flight participants (a) In general Chapter 509 is amended— (1) in section 50914(a)— (A) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: (E) space flight participants. ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (5) Subparagraph (E) of paragraph (4) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025. ; and (2) in section 50915(a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking a licensee or transferee under this chapter, a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of the licensee or transferee, or a contractor or subcontractor of a customer, but not against a space flight participant, and inserting a person described in paragraph (3)(A) ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (3) (A) A person described in this subparagraph is— (i) a licensee or transferee under this chapter; (ii) a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of the licensee or transferee; (iii) a contractor or subcontractor of a customer; or (iv) a space flight participant. (B) Clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025. . 104. Launch license flexibility Section 50906 is amended— (1) in subsection (d)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking that will be launched or reentered and inserting or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered under that permit ; (B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques; ; and (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking prior to obtaining a license ; and (ii) by inserting or vehicle after design of the rocket ; (2) in subsection (e)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking suborbital rocket design and inserting suborbital rocket or suborbital rocket design, or for a particular reusable launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design, ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting or launch vehicle after the suborbital rocket ; (3) 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 issued under this section. ; and (4) in subsection (h), by inserting or reusable launch vehicle after suborbital rocket . 105. Licensing report Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on approaches for streamlining the licensing and permitting process of launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or components of launch or reentry vehicles, to enable non-launch flight operations related to space transportation. The report shall include approaches to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints. The report shall also include an assessment of existing private and government infrastructure, as appropriate, in future licensing activities. 106. Federal jurisdiction Section 50914 is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Federal jurisdiction Any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the license shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts. . 107. Cross waivers Section 50914(b)(1) is amended to read as follows: (1) (A) A launch or reentry license issued or transferred under this chapter shall contain a provision requiring the licensee or transferee to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with applicable parties involved in launch services or reentry services under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible for personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by it or its own employees resulting from an activity carried out under the applicable license. (B) In this paragraph, the term applicable parties means— (i) contractors, subcontractors, and customers of the licensee or transferee; (ii) contractors and subcontractors of the customers; and (iii) space flight participants. (C) Clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025. . 108. Space authority (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and the commercial space sector, shall— (1) assess current, and proposed near-term, commercial non-governmental activities conducted in space; (2) identify appropriate authorization and supervision authorities for the activities described in paragraph (1); (3) recommend an authorization and supervision approach that would prioritize safety, utilize existing authorities, minimize burdens to the industry, promote the U.S. commercial space sector, and meet the United States obligations under international treaties; and (4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the activities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). (b) Exception Nothing in this section shall apply to the activities of the ISS national laboratory as described in section 504 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18354 ), including any research or development projects utilizing the ISS national laboratory. 109. Orbital traffic management (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that an improved framework may be necessary for space traffic management of United States Government assets and United States private sector assets in outer space and orbital debris mitigation. (b) Study Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense, shall enter into an arrangement with an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study alternate frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities. (c) Contents The study shall include the following: (1) An assessment of current regulations, best practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation. (2) An assessment of current statutory authorities granted to the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation and how those agencies utilize and coordinate those authorities. (3) A review of all space traffic management and orbital debris requirements under treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory, and other nonbinding international arrangements in which the United States participates, and the manner and extent to which the Federal Government complies with those requirements and arrangements. (4) An assessment of existing Federal Government assets used to conduct space traffic management and space situational awareness. (5) An assessment of the risk to space traffic management associated with smallsats and any necessary Government coordination for their launch and utilization to avoid congestion of the orbital environment and improve space situational awareness. (6) An assessment of existing private sector information sharing activities associated with space situational awareness and space traffic management. (7) Recommendations related to the appropriate framework for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and economic vitality of the space industry. (d) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives the study required in subsection (b). (e) Department of Defense authorities (1) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense plays a vital and unique role in protecting national security assets in space. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary of Defense as it relates to safeguarding the national security. 110. Space surveillance and situational awareness data Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation in concurrence with the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, study the feasibility of processing and releasing safety-related space situational awareness data and information to any entity consistent with national security interests and public safety obligations of the United States; and (2) submit a report on the feasibility study to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. 111. Consensus standards and extension of certain safety regulation requirements Section 50905(c) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting In general .— before The Secretary ; (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting Regulations .— before Regulations ; (3) by striking paragraph (3); (4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (10); (5) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Facilitation of standards The Secretary shall continue to work with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, to facilitate the development of voluntary industry consensus standards based on recommended best practices to improve the safety of crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants as the commercial space sector continues to mature. (4) Communication and transparency Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to discuss potential regulatory approaches, potential performance standards, or any other topic related to this subsection with the commercial space industry, including observations, findings, and recommendations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, prior to the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Such discussions shall not be construed to permit the Secretary to promulgate industry regulations except as otherwise provided in this section. (5) Interim voluntary industry consensus standards reports (A) In general Not later than December 31, 2016, and every 30 months thereafter until December 31, 2021, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. (B) Contents The report shall include, at a minimum— (i) any voluntary industry consensus standards that have been accepted by the industry at large; (ii) the identification of areas that have the potential to become voluntary industry consensus standards that are currently under consideration by the industry at large; (iii) an assessment from the Secretary on the general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards; (iv) any lessons learned about voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; (v) any lessons learned associated with the development, potential application, and acceptance of voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; and (vi) recommendations, findings, or observations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, on the progress of the industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. (6) Report Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the SPACE Act of 2015 , the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report specifying key industry metrics that might indicate readiness of the commercial space sector and the Department of Transportation to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations under paragraph (9) that considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and crew safety. (7) Reports Not later than March 31 of each of 2018 and 2022, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that identifies the activities, described in this subsection and subsection (d) most appropriate for a new safety framework that may include regulatory action, if any, and a proposed transition plan for such safety framework. (8) Independent review Not later than December 31, 2022, an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of the readiness of the commercial space industry and the Federal Government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. As part of the review, the contracted organization shall evaluate— (A) the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards as reported by the Secretary in the interim assessments included in the reports under paragraph (5); (B) the progress of the commercial space industry toward meeting the key industry metrics identified by the report under paragraph (6), including the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire; and (C) whether the areas identified in the reports under paragraph (5) are appropriate for regulatory action, or further development of voluntary industry consensus standards, considering the progress evaluated in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph. (9) Learning period Beginning on October 1, 2023, the Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without regard to subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (2). The development of any such regulations shall take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified in the reports published under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7). ; and (6) in paragraph (10), as redesignated, by inserting Rule of construction .— before Nothing . 112. Government astronauts (a) Findings and purpose Section 50901(15) is amended by inserting , government astronauts, after crew each place it appears. (b) Sense of Congress The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has a need to fly government astronauts (as defined in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, as amended) within commercial launch vehicles and reentry vehicles under chapter 509 of that title. This need was identified by the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration due to the intended use of commercial launch vehicles and reentry vehicles developed under the Commercial Crew Development Program, authorized in section 402 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2820; Public Law 111–267 ). It is the sense of Congress that the authority delegated to the Administration by the amendment made by subsection (d) of this section should be used for that purpose. (c) Definition of government astronaut Section 50902 is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as paragraphs (7) through (25), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) government astronaut means an individual who— (A) is designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under section 20113(n); (B) is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and (C) is either— (i) an employee of the United States Government, including the uniformed services, engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; or (ii) an international partner astronaut. (5) international partner astronaut means an individual designated under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement, by a partner to that agreement other than the United States, as qualified to serve as an International Space Station crew member. (6) International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington January 29, 1998 (TIAS 12927). . (d) Powers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in performance of functions Section 20113 is amended by adding at the end the following: (n) Identification of government astronauts For purposes of a license issued or transferred by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 509 to launch a launch vehicle or to reenter a reentry vehicle carrying a government astronaut (as defined in section 50902), the Administration shall designate a government astronaut in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Administration. . (e) Definition of launch Paragraph (7) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking and any payload, crew, or space flight participant and inserting and any payload or human being . (f) Definition of launch services Paragraph (9) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant and inserting payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant . (g) Definition of reenter and reentry Paragraph (16) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking and its payload, crew, or space flight participants, if any, and inserting and its payload or human beings, if any, . (h) Definition of reentry services Paragraph (17) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant, if any, and inserting payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any, . (i) Definition of space flight participant Paragraph (20) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended to read as follows: (20) space flight participant means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. . (j) Definition of third party Paragraph (24)(E) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by inserting , government astronauts, after crew . (k) Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries; single license or permit Section 50904(d) is amended by striking activities involving crew or space flight participants and inserting activities involving crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . (l) License applications and requirements; applications Section 50905 is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking crews and space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants ; (2) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by striking crew or space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants ; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking crew and space flight participants and inserting crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants . (m) Monitoring activities Section 50907(a) is amended by striking at a site used for crew or space flight participant training and inserting at a site not owned or operated by the Federal Government or a foreign government used for crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant training . (n) Additional suspensions Section 50908(d)(1) is amended by striking to crew or space flight participants each place it appears and inserting to any human being . (o) Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations; nonapplication Section 50919(g) is amended to read as follows: (g) Nonapplication (1) In general This chapter does not apply to— (A) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or (B) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity under subparagraph (A). (2) Rule of construction The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under paragraph (1): (A) A government astronaut being carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter. (B) A government astronaut performing activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter. . 113. Streamline commercial space launch activities (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that eliminating duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations will promote and encourage the development of the commercial space sector. (b) Reaffirmation of policy Congress reaffirms that the Secretary of Transportation, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should— (1) promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector; (2) facilitate Government, State, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities; (3) protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and (4) consult with the head of another executive agency, including the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as necessary to provide consistent application of licensing requirements under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code. (c) Requirements (1) In general The Secretary of Transportation under section 50918 of title 51, United States Code, and subject to section 50905(b)(2)(C) of that title, shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate— (A) to identify all requirements that are imposed to protect the public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle; and (B) to evaluate the requirements identified in subparagraph (A) and, in coordination with the licensee or transferee and the heads of the relevant executive agencies— (i) determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency; and (ii) resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle. (2) Reports Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Secretary of Transportation determines no outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government exist, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the commercial space sector, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: (A) A description of the process for the application for and approval of a permit or license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, for the commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, including the identification of— (i) any unique requirements for operating on a United States Government launch site, reentry site, or launch property; and (ii) any inconsistent, outmoded, or duplicative requirements or approvals. (B) A description of current efforts, if any, to coordinate and work across executive agencies to define interagency processes and procedures for sharing information, avoiding duplication of effort, and resolving common agency requirements. (C) Recommendations for legislation that may further— (i) streamline requirements in order to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints; and (ii) consolidate or modify requirements across affected agencies into a single application set that satisfies the requirements identified in paragraph (1)(A). (3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) any applicable definitions set forth in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, shall apply; (B) the terms launch , reenter , and reentry include landing of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and (C) the terms United States Government launch site and United States Government reentry site include any necessary facility, at that location, that is commercially operated on United States Government property. 114. Operation and utilization of the ISS (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) maximum utilization of partnerships, scientific research, commercial applications, and exploration test bed capabilities of the ISS is essential to ensuring the greatest return on investments made by the United States and its international partners in the development, assembly, and operations of that unique facility; and (2) every effort should be made to ensure that decisions regarding the service life of the ISS are based on the station's projected capability to continue providing effective and productive research and exploration test bed capabilities. (b) Continuation of the International Space Station (1) In general Section 501 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18351 ) is amended— (A) in the heading, by striking through 2020 ; and (B) in subsection (a), by striking through at least 2020 and inserting through at least 2024 . (2) Maintenance of the United States segment and assurance of continued operations of the International Space Station Section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18353 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking through at least September 30, 2020 and inserting through at least September 30, 2024 ; and (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator and inserting The Administrator . (3) Research capacity allocation and integration of research payloads Section 504(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18354(d) ) is amended by striking September 30, 2020 each place it appears and inserting at least September 30, 2024 . (4) Maintaining use through at least 2024 Section 70907 is amended to read as follows: 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024 (a) Policy The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the International Space Station remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential United States utilization through at least September 30, 2024. (b) NASA actions In furtherance of the policy under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the International Space Station, as a designated national laboratory— (1) remains viable as an element of overall exploration and partnership strategies and approaches; (2) is considered for use by all NASA mission directorates, as appropriate, for technically appropriate scientific data gathering or technology risk reduction demonstrations; and (3) remains an effective, functional vehicle providing research and test bed capabilities for the United States through at least September 30, 2024. . (5) Technical and conforming amendments (A) Table of contents of 2010 Act The item relating to section 501 in the table of contents in section 1(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2806) is amended by striking through 2020 . (B) Table of contents of chapter 709 The table of contents for chapter 709 is amended by amending the item relating to section 70907 to read as follows: 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024. . 115. State commercial launch facilities (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) State involvement, development, ownership, and operation of launch facilities can enable growth of the Nation's commercial suborbital and orbital space endeavors and support both commercial and Government space programs; (2) State launch facilities and the people and property in the affected launch areas of those facilities may be subject to risks resulting from an activity carried out under a license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code; and (3) to ensure the success of the commercial launch industry and the safety of the people and property in the affected launch areas of those facilities, States and State launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to protect themselves, to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services or reentry services, and compensate third parties for possible death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under a license under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, to which the State or State launch facility is involved in the launch services or reentry services. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the potential inclusion of all government property, including State and municipal property, in the existing indemnification regime established under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code. 116. Space support vehicles study (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry. (b) Contents This report shall include— (1) the extent to which launch providers rely on such services as part of their business models; (2) the statutory, regulatory, and market barriers to the use of such services; and (3) recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be needed to ensure reduced barriers to the use of such services if such use is a requirement of the industry. 117. Space launch system update (a) In general Chapter 701 is amended— (1) in the heading by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; (2) in section 70101— (A) in the heading, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; and (B) by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; (3) by amending section 70102 to read as follows: 70102. Space launch system use policy (a) In general The Space Launch System may be used for the following circumstances: (1) Payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System. (2) Other payloads and missions that substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System. (3) On a space available basis, Federal Government or educational payloads that are consistent with NASA’s mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. (4) Compelling circumstances, as determined by the Administrator. (b) Agreements with foreign entities The Administrator may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology using the Space Launch System. (c) Compelling circumstances Not later than 30 days after the date the Administrator makes a determination under subsection (a)(4), the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives written notification of the Administrator’s intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission under that subsection, including justification for the determination. ; (4) in section 70103— (A) in the heading, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; and (B) in subsection (b), by striking space shuttle each place it appears and inserting space launch system ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: 70104. Definition of Space Launch System In this chapter, the term Space Launch System means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322 ). . (b) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51 is amended by amending the item relating to chapter 701 to read as follows: 701. Use of space launch system or alternatives 70101 . (2) Table of contents of chapter 701 The table of contents of chapter 701 is amended— (A) in the item relating to section 70101, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; (B) in the item relating to section 70102, by striking Space shuttle and inserting Space launch system ; (C) in the item relating to section 70103, by striking space shuttle and inserting space launch system ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: 70104. Definition of Space Launch System. . (3) Requirement to procure commercial space transportation services Section 50131(a) of chapter 51 is amended by inserting or in section 70102 after in this section . II Commercial remote sensing 201. Annual reports (a) In general Subchapter III of chapter 601 is amended by adding at the end the following: 60126. Annual reports (a) In general The Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act , and annually thereafter, on— (1) the Secretary's implementation of section 60121, including— (A) a list of all applications received in the previous calendar year; (B) a list of all applications that resulted in a license under section 60121; (C) a list of all applications denied and an explanation of why each application was denied, 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 disposition exceeded the 120 day deadline established in section 60121(c), the total days overdue for each application that exceeded such deadline, and an explanation for the delay; (2) all notifications and information provided to the Secretary under section 60122; and (3) a description of all actions taken by the Secretary under the administrative authority granted by paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of section 60123(a). (b) Classified annexes Each report under subsection (a) may include classified annexes as necessary to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information. (c) Sunset The reporting requirement under this section terminates effective September 30, 2020. . (b) Table of contents The table of contents of chapter 601 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 60125 the following: 60126. Annual reports. . 202. Statutory update report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on statutory updates necessary to license private remote sensing space systems. In preparing the report, the Secretary shall take into account the need to protect national security while maintaining United States private sector leadership in the field, and reflect the current state of the art of remote sensing systems, instruments, or technologies. III Office of space commerce 301. Renaming of office of space commercialization (a) Chapter heading (1) Amendment The heading for chapter 507 is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . (2) Conforming amendment The item relating to chapter 507 in the table of chapters for title 51 is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . (b) Definition of office Section 50701 is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . (c) Renaming Section 50702(a) is amended by striking Commercialization and inserting Commerce . 302. Functions of the office of space commerce Section 50702(c) is amended by striking Commerce. and inserting Commerce, including— (1) to foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the United States space commerce industry; (2) to coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within the Department of Commerce; (3) to represent the Department of Commerce in the development of United States policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote United States space commerce; (4) to promote the advancement of United States geospatial technologies related to space commerce, in cooperation with relevant interagency working groups; and (5) to provide support to Federal Government organizations working on Space-Based Positioning Navigation, and Timing policy, including the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Position, Navigation, and Timing. . IV Space resource exploration and utilization 401. Short title This title may be cited as the Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015 . 402. Title 51 amendment (a) In general Subtitle V is amended by adding at the end the following: 513 Space resource commercial exploration and utilization Sec. 51301. Definitions. 51302. Commercial exploration and commercial recovery. 51303. Asteroid resource and space resource rights. 51301. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Asteroid resource The term asteroid resource means a space resource found on or within a single asteroid. (2) Space resource (A) In general The term space resource means an abiotic resource in situ in outer space. (B) Inclusions The term space resource includes water and minerals. (3) United States citizen The term United States citizen has the meaning given the term citizen of the United States in section 50902. 51302. Commercial exploration and commercial recovery (a) In general The President, acting through appropriate Federal agencies, shall— (1) facilitate commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens; (2) discourage government barriers to the development in the United States of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with the international obligations of the United States; and (3) promote the right of United States citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with the international obligations of the United States and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall submit to Congress a report on commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens that specifies— (1) the authorities necessary to meet the international obligations of the United States, including authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government; and (2) recommendations for the allocation of responsibilities among Federal agencies for the activities described in paragraph (1). 51303. Asteroid resource and space resource rights A United States citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource under this chapter shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell the asteroid resource or space resource obtained in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of the United States. . (b) Table of chapters The table of chapters for title 51 is amended by adding at the end of the items for subtitle V the following: 513. Space resource commercial exploration and utilization 51301 . 403. Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty It is the sense of Congress that by the enactment of this Act, the United States does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any celestial body.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.