PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.
Congressional Research Service
Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Dec 4, 2014
Revises requirements for experimental permits related to commercial space launch activities.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue an experimental permit for a particular reusable suborbital vehicle (RSV) for research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques, regardless of whether they are new (as under current law) or already existing.
Strikes the requirement that crew training for which the permit may be used must occur before a commercial license for launch or reentry is obtained.
Allows a permit to authorize an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular RSV rocket design (as well as for a particular RSV, as under current law).
Repeals the prohibition against issuance of a permit, and the automatic invalidation of an existing permit, after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of an RSV of a particular design.
Authorizes the Secretary to issue a permit regardless of whether a license has already been issued. Declares that the issuance of a license may not invalidate a permit.
People & committees
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] · D–NM
Legislative record
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By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.
By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-318.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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