Space Travel: Allowing Firms to Keep Experimental Permits While Obtaining Commercial Licenses (S. 2140)

What is S. 2140?

(Updated December 13, 2014)

According to the Congressional Budgeting Office (CBO), 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates commercial launches of orbital and suborbital rockets. Firms that engage in such launches must obtain either an experimental permit—which allows repeated launches to test rocket design concepts and operating procedures—or a commercial license, which goes beyond an experimental permit by also allowing the licensee to transport commercial passengers. Under current law, obtaining a commercial license effectively negates the licensee’s experimental permits.

This bill would change that either/or policy, allowing firms to retain their experimental permit and also have a license for commercial space travel. The House companion bill is called the SOARS Act. 

Argument in favor

Streamlines the R&D and commercial components of space travel firms, allowing innovation to continue as commercial licenses are gained.

Argument opposed

No provision saying Congress must remain on Earth until they fix things. Also: space aliens and black holes.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would mean that entities like Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic can keep experimenting with prototypes while also holding commercial licenses for commercial space travel.

Cost of S. 2140

The CBO estimates that the bill wold have no significant impact on the federal budget.

Additional Info

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