Commercial Space Competitiveness Act of 1992

Summary

Commercial Space Competitiveness Act of 1991 - Title I: General Provisions - Sets forth findings and definitions for this Act. Title II: Space Transportation - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to extend certain provisions relating to payment by the United States against a licensee under the Act. Amends the Launch Services Purchase Act of 1990 to include suborbital payloads in the requirement to purchase launch services from commercial providers. Modifies requirements regarding use of non-commercial providers. Mandates a report on use of commercial services for suborbital launch programs. Establishes a demonstration program to award vouchers to researchers for the payment of commercial launch services and payload integration services for small scientific payloads. Authorizes grants for projects relating to the development or improvement of space transportation infrastructure. Establishes in the Treasury the Commercial Space Transportation Trust Fund, to consist of revenues from any fees assessed by the Department of Transportation for the licensing of commercial launch activities and to be used for projects that directly benefit the U.S. space transportation industry. Requires that projects be selected by an Industry Selection Committee representing fee payors. Requires an inventory to identify federally-owned launch support facilities: (1) not needed for public use; or (2) which could be made available for non-Federal use on a reimbursable basis without interfering with Federal activities. Title III: Use of Missile Assets for Space Launch - Allows Federal agencies to make use of missile systems or components thereof decommissioned from the military arsenal (missile assets) only when such use is more cost effective than commercial launch services. Requires an agency, when missile assets are used, to make the assets available as Government-furnished equipment and purchase commercial launch services from the private sector. Regulates the decision on whether to use missile assets and, if so, their use. Allows Federal agencies, in certain circumstances, to provide for acquisition by the private sector of missile assets. Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to allow, for purposes of provisions relating to acquisition and payment by the private sector of launch property or services, an agency providing launch property to define "fair market value" as the most beneficial price offered to the Government at auction. Requires an agency, to promote fair and open competition, to make certain data available to bidders. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the release of missile assets by foreign governments or the offer of launch services by foreign entities using such assets should be addressed in fair trade negotiations. Requires Federal agencies to consider such release or offer in decisions regarding the sale of U.S. missile assets. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Authorizes the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to enter into contracts in which the Government agrees to procure sufficient quantities of a commercial space product or service needed to meet Government mission requirements so that a commercial venture is made viable (anchor tenancy contracts) in order to increase the viability of a commercial space venture. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to authorize NASA to: (1) make contracts in excess of available funds; and (2) provide for liability payments from certain sources in the event the Government terminates such contracts. Authorizes Federal agencies to allow non-Federal entities to use their space-related facilities on a reimbursable basis. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to mandate protection of information developed under specified provisions of the Act from dissemination. Establishes a Commercial Space Achievement Award, consisting of a medal and, if funding is available, a cash prize, to individuals, corporations, corporate divisions, or corporate subsidiaries meeting certain criteria. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to accept gifts from public and private sources for the cash prize.

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Documents

5 official files

• Referred in Senate (text)

  Referred in Senate · EN

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Engrossed in House (text)

  Engrossed in House · EN

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 6 August 1992

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 21 November 1991

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