S. 2140 · 113th Congress
A bill to improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable…
Full title
A bill to improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles.
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 113th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
5 cosponsors · 2 D, 3 R
2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Revises requirements for experimental permits related to commercial space launch activities.
What it does: CRS summary · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Dec 4, 2014
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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: A bill to improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles.
Latest action (Dec 12, 2014): By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Mar 13, 2014
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.