Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984

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.^[1]

Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984

Long title	An Act to facilitate commercial space launches, and for other purposes.
Acronyms (colloquial)	CSLA, ELVCA
Nicknames	Expendable Launch Vehicle Commercialization Act
Enacted by	the 98th United States Congress
Effective	October 30, 1984
Citations
Public law	98-575
Statutes at Large	98 Stat. 3055
Codification
Titles amended	51 U.S.C.: National and Commercial Space Programs
U.S.C. sections created	51 U.S.C. § 50901 et seq.
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 3942 by Daniel Akaka (D–HI) on September 21, 1983 Committee consideration by House Science and Technology, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Passed the House on June 5, 1984 (passed voice vote) Passed the Senate on October 9, 1984 (passed voice vote) with amendment House agreed to Senate amendment on October 9, 1984 (agreed unanimous consent) Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 30, 1984

The H.R. 3942 legislation was enacted by the 98th Congressional session and signed by President Ronald Reagan on October 30, 1984.^[2]

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.^[3] This search was because 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.^[4]

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 civilian space program of the United States.^[5][6]

51 U.S.C. § 50901 - Findings and purposes

51 U.S.C. § 50902 - Definitions

51 U.S.C. § 50903 - General authority

51 U.S.C. § 50904 - Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries

51 U.S.C. § 50905 - License applications and requirements

51 U.S.C. § 50906 - Experimental permits

51 U.S.C. § 50907 - Monitoring activities

51 U.S.C. § 50908 - Effective periods, and modifications, suspensions, and revocations, of licenses

51 U.S.C. § 50909 - Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries

51 U.S.C. § 50910 - Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries

51 U.S.C. § 50911 - Space advertising

51 U.S.C. § 50912 - Administrative hearings and judicial review

51 U.S.C. § 50913 - Acquiring United States Government property and services

51 U.S.C. § 50914 - Liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements

51 U.S.C. § 50915 - Paying claims exceeding liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements

51 U.S.C. § 50916 - Disclosing information

51 U.S.C. § 50917 - Enforcement and penalty

51 U.S.C. § 50918 - Consultation

51 U.S.C. § 50919 - Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations

51 U.S.C. § 50920 - User fees

51 U.S.C. § 50921 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation

51 U.S.C. § 50922 - Regulations

51 U.S.C. § 50923 - Report to Congress

Amendments to 1984 Act

Chronological amendments to the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984.

Date of Enactment	Public Law Number	U.S. Statute Citation	U.S. Legislative Bill	U.S. Presidential Administration
November 15, 1988	P.L. 100-657	102 Stat. 3900	H.R. 4399	Ronald W. Reagan
December 23, 2004	P.L. 108-492	118 Stat. 3974	H.R. 5382	George W. Bush

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• Commercial Orbital Transportation Services – Former NASA program
• Commercial use of space – Economic activities related to space
• NewSpace – Spaceflight not by a governmentPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Office of Commercial Space Transportation – Branch of the US FAA
• Private spaceflight – Spaceflight not by a government
• Space advertising – Use of advertisements in outer space
• Timeline of private spaceflight