U.S. COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH COMPETITIVENESS ACT (5)

(BEING CONTINUED FROM 10/02/23)

SEC. 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;
51 USC prec. 70901.
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PUBLIC LAW 114–90—NOV. 25, 2015 129 STAT. 717
(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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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’’.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

SOURCE https://congress.gov/