H.R. 5346, Commercial Space Support Vehicle Act

Floor Situation

On Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the House will consider H.R. 5346, the Commercial Space Support Vehicle Act, under suspension of the rules. This bill was introduced on March 20, 2018 by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) and was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which ordered the bill reported, by voice vote on March 22, 2018.

Summary

H.R. 5346 amends title 51, United States Code, National and Commercial Space Programs, to provide for licenses and experimental permits for space support vehicles and flights.

Background

A GAO report issued in November 2016 recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration examine its current regulatory framework for space support vehicles and suggest legislative or regulatory changes, as applicable. The Commercial Space Support Vehicle Act was largely developed with input from a Department of Transportation report on approaches for streamlining the licensing and permitting process of hybrid launch vehicles to enable non-launch flight operations. This bill amends Title 51 by adding two new definitions: one for “space support flight” and one for “space support vehicle” into the list of definitions for vehicles licensed under this chapter, so that we can create streamlined regulations for hybrid launch vehicles to operate.[1]

The bill also amends Title 51 to allow the secretary of transportation to provide licenses for hybrid launch vehicles to conduct space support flights. Hybrid launch vehicles are vehicles that have some of the characteristics of aircraft and some of the characteristics of launch vehicles. NASA has utilized them to conduct parabolic experiments for years.[2]

Companies would like to utilize space support vehicles to train crews and spaceflight participants by exposing them to the physiological effects encountered in spaceflight or conduct research in reduced gravity environments. The Department of Transportation report concluded that the “option of having a single statutory regime and regulatory office oversee a demonstrated commercial space program throughout its operational lifecycle would allow consistent application of regulatory philosophy and safety oversight and be more efficient and cost effective for the launch operator as well as the licensing agency.”[3]

The report further concluded that “for an evolving industry, a regulatory environment that can adjust to accommodate changes would allow for more flexible and more responsive oversight.”[4]

According to the bill’s sponsor, “Companies would like to utilize space support vehicles to train crews and spaceflight participants by exposing them to the physiological effects encountered in spaceflight or conduct research in reduced gravity environments. This legislation creates a foundation for more companies to engage in human space flight activities and support commercial space operations. I would like to thank Rep. Al Lawson, Chairman Lamar Smith and Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin for their support of this important, bipartisan legislation.”[5]

Cost

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate is not currently available.

Staff Contact

For questions or further information please contact Ryan Hofmann with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 2-6674.