§50922 Regulations

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must write rules to run the program. Within 9 months after this law was passed, the Secretary must issue rules that cover getting enough insurance for damage to other people or property, how to apply for and get commercial launch licenses, operator licenses, launch site operator licenses, and how government protection against certain claims (indemnification) will work. Within 6 months, the Secretary must publish a proposal for rules on how to apply for and get reentry licenses, reentry operator licenses, and reentry site operator licenses. For the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004, the Secretary must publish proposed rules within 12 months and final rules within 18 months. Those rules must cover crew, space flight participants, and permits for reusable suborbital rockets. Starting 3 years after that Act, the Secretary may change the legal definition of “suborbital rocket,” but any change cannot take effect until 180 days after Congress is notified and only if the Secretary finds the old definition no longer fits, considering how the industry is changing. Licenses or permits for launches or reentries with people on board may be issued before those final rules are in place, and the Secretary must give guidance until the rules are finished. However, no such licenses or permits may be issued after 3 years from that Act’s enactment unless the required final rules have been issued.