The Federation Urges Congress to Quickly Pass Commercial Space Act
CSF President Eric Stallmer released the following statement calling on Congress to quickly pass H.R. 2262, the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act:
“CSF applauds the House and Senate negotiators for the tremendous work and effort they put into crafting the bipartisan, bicameral U.S Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (H.R. 2262). When the CSLA was updated 11 years ago, Congress codified a regulatory regime that led to an unparalleled level of investment, innovation, and economic growth in the commercial space industry. This new legislation sets the stage for the continued growth and expansion of this industry, while enabling rapid advances in safety. It incentivizes further investments in innovation and the development of spaceflight capabilities that will benefit all Americans. For these reasons, and many more, CSF calls on Congress to quickly pass H.R. 2262, the bipartisan bill that will ensure that America remains the leader in space.”
9 responses to “The Federation Urges Congress to Quickly Pass Commercial Space Act”
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Is it a good act???
I see the word safety in there. That’s always a scary word?
Why are they in a hurry for it to pass?? Are they afraid some crap might be added that hurts commercial spaceflight if it doesn’t pass soon?
HELP!!!
🙂
Why is it needed in the first place over what we have now??
What we have now leaves investors in the dark as to how their investments will be treated by the US government in the future. While OST *allows* private asteroid mining, it does nothing to structure its legality, so that too many questions remain as companies do their due diligence for investing. Yes, safety can be scary, because lawyers are always looking for a way to sue any newly successful company. Proper legal structure can mitigate the risks of that.
Yes, it would have been better if the ASTEROID Act had stayed separate. But now its faith is tied up with issues unrelated to it.
If Congress does not pass the act by January the authors will have to start again.
Here is the official information about the bill.
https://www.congress.gov/bi…
Some of the clauses in previous bills are about to timeout and need renewing. The Department of Transport/FAA will be able to issue regulations and US courts handle disputes. US commercial companies will be permitted to mine asteroids – currently allowed by international treaties but not US law.
Actually the International Treaties, specifically the OST, that allow it are part of U.S. law. All treaties ratified by the Senate become part of federal law.
The ASTERIOD Act simply clarifies U.S. firms have that right and sets of a procedure for doing so. But hopefully it will be passed so firms make start firming up their business models for mining asteroids.
From Wikipedia ‘Outer Space Treaty’
“Article VI
of the Outer Space Treaty deals with international responsibility,
stating that “the activities of non-governmental entities in outer
space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall require
authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party
to the Treaty” and that States Parties shall bear international
responsibility for national space activities whether carried out by
governmental or non-governmental entities.”
So until authorised by the US Government US firms cannot mine asteroid. A law needs passing to allow the US Government/civil service/President to give such authorisations.
I don’t think so. The Congress is in session until after elections in November 2016.
I think it is that they are in ‘session’ until Obama is gone.
There’s a House measure and a Senate one that have some significant differences. There have been negotiations, and it’s not clear what compromises have been made.