Acronyms (colloquial) CSLA, ELVCA Public law 98-575 | Effective October 30, 1984 | |
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Long title An Act to facilitate commercial space launches, and for other purposes. Nicknames Expendable Launch Vehicle Commercialization Act Enacted by | ||
Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 is a United States federal law authored to facilitate the private enterprise of the commercialization of space and space technology. The Act of Congress set forth the quest to acquire innovative equipment and services offered by entrepreneurial ventures from the information technology services, remote sensing technology, and telecommunications industries. The Act recognized the United States private sector as having the capability to develop commercial launch vehicles, orbital satellites, and operate private launch sites and services. The Act also assigned the duties of overseeing and coordinating commercial launches, issuing of licenses and permits, and promotion of safety standards to the Secretary of Department of Transportation.
Contents
- History
- Provisions of the Act
- Commercial Aerospace Enterprises
- Commercial Spaceports
- Amendments to 1984 Act
- References
The H.R. 3942 legislation was enacted by the 98th Congressional session and signed by the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan on October 30, 1984.
History
In the 1970s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began to look for ways to outsource the use of its launching facilities and services to private companies such as COMSAT, RCA, and Western Union. This search was due to the fact that maintaining, modifying, launching, and other duties required to launch expendable launch vehicles cost upwards of billions of dollars. Once the space shuttle became operational, NASA and the United States Air Force began using it almost exclusively. In order to accommodate the heavy weight of the space shuttle launch system, the USAF spent billions of dollars modifying one launch pad in Vandenberg Air Force Base. However, it was never used. Upon realizing the economic benefits of utilizing private space companies, the House Science and Technologies Commission proposed H.R. 3942 which eventually became Public Law 98-575, or the Commercial Space Act of 1984.
Provisions of the Act
Title 51 United States Code Subtitle V and Chapter 509 was compiled as twenty-three code of law sections to vitalize commercial opportunities and space launch services for the Space programme of the United States.
51 U.S.C. § 50901 - Findings and purposes51 U.S.C. § 50902 - Definitions51 U.S.C. § 50903 - General authority51 U.S.C. § 50904 - Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries51 U.S.C. § 50905 - License applications and requirements51 U.S.C. § 50906 - Experimental permits51 U.S.C. § 50907 - Monitoring activities51 U.S.C. § 50908 - Effective periods, and modifications, suspensions, and revocations, of licenses51 U.S.C. § 50909 - Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries51 U.S.C. § 50910 - Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries51 U.S.C. § 50911 - Space advertising51 U.S.C. § 50912 - Administrative hearings and judicial review51 U.S.C. § 50913 - Acquiring United States Government property and services51 U.S.C. § 50914 - Liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements51 U.S.C. § 50915 - Paying claims exceeding liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements51 U.S.C. § 50916 - Disclosing information51 U.S.C. § 50917 - Enforcement and penalty51 U.S.C. § 50918 - Consultation51 U.S.C. § 50919 - Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations51 U.S.C. § 50920 - User fees51 U.S.C. § 50921 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation51 U.S.C. § 50922 - Regulations51 U.S.C. § 50923 - Report to CongressCommercial Aerospace Enterprises
Orbital Sciences CorporationScaled CompositesSierra Nevada CorporationSpace Exploration Technologies CorporationUnited Launch AllianceVirgin GalacticXCOR AerospaceCommercial Spaceports
Clinton-Sherman Industrial AirparkKodiak Launch ComplexMid-Atlantic Regional SpaceportMojave Air and Space PortSpaceport AmericaSpaceX autonomous spaceport drone shipAmendments to 1984 Act
Chronological amendments to the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984.