PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Provisions of H.R.3245 were Incorporated into H.R.3752..
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 2, 2003
Commercial Space Act of 2003 - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) to prohibit CSLA license holders from launching or reentering a spaceflight participant unless: (1) the participant has received training and met medical or other standards specified in the license; (2) the participant is informed of the safety record of the launch or reentry vehicle type; and (3) the launch or reentry vehicle is marked to distinguish it from an aircraft in a manner specified by the Secretary of Transportation.
Requires the Secretary to create, and report to Congress on progress in implementing, a streamlined, cost-effective, and enabling regulatory framework for the U.S. commercial human spaceflight industry.
Extends current indemnification provisions for commercial space transportation through calendar 2007.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires the Secretary to arrange with the National Academy of Public Administration to study and report to Congress on the liability risk-sharing regime for U.S. commercial space transportation.
Redesignates the Department of Commerce's Office of Space Commercialization as the Office of Space Commerce (OSC).
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to delegate to the Director of OSC the Secretary's licensing authority for private remote sensing space systems (satellite photo systems). Amends the Technology Administration Act of 1998 to reflect this delegation of authority and to give the Director of OSC responsibility for serving as Executive Secretary for the Interagency Global Positioning System Executive Board.
People & committees
Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-46] · R–CA
Legislative record
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Provisions of H.R.3245 were Incorporated into H.R.3752..
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
Referred to the House Committee on Science.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.3245 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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