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S 2140 113th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Licensing and registrations Spacecraft and satellites

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

Introduced: March 13, 2014 Introduced by: Heinrich, Martin Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 12, 2014
By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.
Dec 4, 2014
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.
Dec 4, 2014
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Apr 9, 2014
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 13, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 13, 2014
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Revises requirements for experimental permits related to commercial space launch activities.

Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue an experimental permit for a particular reusable suborbital vehicle (RSV) for research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques, regardless of whether they are new (as under current law) or already existing.

Strikes the requirement that crew training for which the permit may be used must occur before a commercial license for launch or reentry is obtained.

Allows a permit to authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular RSV rocket design (as well as for a particular RSV, as under current law).

Repeals the prohibition against issuance of a permit, and the automatic invalidation of an existing permit, after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of an RSV of a particular design.

Authorizes the Secretary to issue a permit regardless of whether a license has already been issued. Declares that the issuance of a license may not invalidate a permit.

What's happening now December 12, 2014

By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2