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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 5279 (100th)

Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

13 September 1988

Last action

26 September 1988 · Referred

Status

Referred to Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East.

Sponsors

Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42], Rep. Schneider, Claudine [R-RI-2], Rep. Walgren, Doug [D-PA-18], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Scheuer, James H. [D-NY-8], Rep. Udall, Morris K. [D-AZ-2], Rep. Hochbrueckner, George J. [D-NY-1], Rep. AuCoin, Les [D-OR-1], Rep. Olin, James R. [D-VA-6], Rep. Moakley, John Joseph [D-MA-9], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Sabo, Martin Olav [D-MN-5], Rep. Bustamante, Albert G. [D-TX-23], Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17], Rep. Vento, Bruce F. [D-MN-4], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11]

Subjects

Nuclear energy

Source updated

28 August 2025

Nuclear energy

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress encouraging the President to call on the Soviet Union to abandon the use of nuclear power sources in Earth orbit and to join the United States in negotiation to establish a permanent ban on such use. Directs the President to certify to the Congress at least 90 days after this Act's enactment whether the Soviet Union has indicated an official policy to abandon the use of nuclear power sources in Earth orbit. Prohibits the launch into Earth orbit of any U.S. owned or funded spacecraft if the President certifies the Soviet Union's policy to abandon the use in question. Terminates the prohibition if the Soviet Union places a nuclear power source into Earth orbit after indicating its official policy not to do so. Excepts nuclear power sources for a moon base or for deep space scientific and exploration missions. Requires the use of uranium rather than plutonium to fuel nuclear power sources for these latter missions after December 31, 1998. Requires, as well, after the same date, that nuclear power sources be launched, whenever practicable, only on unmanned launch vehicles and be activated only after the spacecraft have achieved a safe deep space trajectory.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 13 September 1988

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 13 September 1988

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Armed Services.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 13 September 1988

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 15 September 1988

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems.

    Source: Committee

  5. 16 September 1988

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications.

    Source: Committee

  6. 16 September 1988

    Committee

    Executive Comment Requested from DOD, DOE.

    Source: Committee

  7. 26 September 1988

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Arms Control, International Security and Science.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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