H.R. 5602: Licensing Aerospace Units to New Commercial Heights Act

This bill, titled the Licensing Aerospace Units to New Commercial Heights Act (LAUNCH Act), aims to streamline regulations related to commercial space launches and the licensing of private remote sensing space systems. Below is a summary of its key provisions:

1. Streamlining Commercial Space Launch Regulations

The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the current implementation of regulations (specifically part 450 of title 14) that govern commercial spaceflight. This evaluation must address:

• If the regulations have introduced uncertainty in the commercial spaceflight industry.
• If they have caused operational delays for launches.
• Changes in timelines for reviewing license applications.

Following the evaluation, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress with findings, recommendations to reduce delays, and an estimate of the timeline and funding needed for these changes.

2. Aerospace Rulemaking Committee

The bill establishes a committee to allow representatives from the commercial spaceflight industry to participate in the regulation amendment process. The committee will facilitate cooperation and input on regulatory challenges.

3. Encouraging Innovation

The Secretary will assess whether any licensing requirements can be modified to foster innovation in commercial space activities.

4. Modifications to License Application Procedures

The bill proposes changes that allow for a reasonable safety rationale for license applications, enabling innovative approaches to safety. It also mandates the assignment of a licensing team lead for applicants to help streamline the review process and eliminate duplicative reviews across different agencies.

5. Digital Licensing System

A digital system must be developed to track and provide status updates on licensing and permitting applications. This system will include:

• Tracking each stage of the application process.
• Public availability of information related to the status of applications.

6. Annual Reporting

The Secretary is tasked with providing annual updates to Congress on the application processing for space activities, including average processing times and efforts to streamline the process.

7. Direct Hire Authority

The bill allows direct hiring of personnel for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation to fill roles related to licensing and permits without going through a competitive process.

8. Establishing the Commercial Space Transportation Administration

A new administration within the Department of Transportation will be created to manage commercial space launch and reentry activities, led by an appointed Administrator.

9. Flight Safety Analysis Workforce

The legislation emphasizes the importance of flight safety analysis and encourages collaboration among various government agencies to support safe commercial launch and reentry activities.

10. Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Systems

Provisions are included to clarify regulatory authority and expedite the licensing of private remote sensing systems, with designated officers assigned to assist applicants through the process and engage effectively with them.

11. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report

A report is mandated to assess the Department of Commerce's policies and practices regarding the private remote sensing space industry, with recommendations for promoting a robust domestic industry.

Relevant Companies

• BA (Boeing) - Boeing is involved in both commercial space launches and satellite deployments, and changes to licensing processes could impact their operations significantly.
• VRTX (Vertex Aerospace) - As a contractor for government aerospace projects, they might see changes in how quickly they can obtain permits for launches.
• NOK (Nokia) - Involved in satellite communications, they may benefit from streamlined remote sensing licensing.
• GOOG (Alphabet Inc.) - Through its satellite initiatives (e.g., SpaceX's Starlink partnership), this bill may affect its satellite deployment timelines.