Fri, Apr 27, 2018
Makes Three Vital Changes To The Legal Basis For U.S. Commercial Space Activity
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the bipartisan American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act of 2017 (H.R. 2809 as amended), one of the most visionary pieces of space policy legislation since President Reagan signed the original Commercial Space Launch Act in 1984.
The Commercial Spaceflight Federation said in a statement released to the media that it applauds House Science, Space & Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson, Space Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin, Ranking Member Ami Bera, Congressmen Kilmer and Perlmutter, and also the bill’s co-author and original co-sponsor, former Oklahoma Congressman and newly-sworn-in NASA Administrator James Bridenstine, for their hard work in getting this bill to the House floor. "We also appreciate the continuing leadership that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have shown in their support for America’s commercial space industry. Finally, we appreciate the efforts of Chairman Mac Thornberry of the House Armed Services and Chairman Bud Shuster of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees in helping this bill come to a vote today," the group said.
H.R. 2809 makes three vital changes to the legal underpinnings of U.S. commercial space activity. First, it elevates the Office of Space Commerce from NOAA to the Office of the Secretary, makes its Director an Assistant Secretary, and authorizes its funding. Second, it completely rewrites the law that guides the Commerce Department in regulating the rapidly-growing U.S. commercial remote sensing industry to advance both U.S. economic leadership and important national security and foreign policy interests, and gives that job to this Office. Last but most importantly, it tasks the Office with creating a presumed-approval regime for non-traditional space activities, with only the necessary powers to ensure these activities' compliance with international obligations of the United States under United Nations space treaties.
“By passing HR 2809, the House of Representatives helped open the space frontier to American free enterprise,” said Eric Stallmer, President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. We look forward to seeing the Senate’s companion legislation, and to supporting both Chambers reach agreement on these important issues during this Congress.”
(Source: Commercial Spaceflight Federation news release)
More News
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Altitude Readout An aircraft’s altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100-foot increments on a radar scope having readout cap>[...]
Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
"The need for innovation at speed and scale is greater than ever. The X-62A VISTA is a crucial platform in our efforts to develop, test and integrate AI, as well as to establish AI>[...]