Sec. 302. Office of Spaceports
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Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— in section 50902, by adding at the end the following new paragraph: spaceport means any facility directly related to enabling spacecraft to launch or reentry, but only if such facility is located at, or in close proximity to, a launch site or reentry site that is a launch site operator licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. ; and by adding at the end the following: Congress finds that a robust network of space transportation infrastructure, including commercial spaceports, is vital to the growth of the domestic commercial space industry.
The Secretary shall establish, within the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, an Office of Spaceports to support, promote, enable, establish, and oversee domestic commercial spaceports. In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall recognize the unique needs and distinctions of spaceports that launch to orbit and those that are involved in suborbital launch activities. The Assistant Secretary for Commercial Space Transportation shall designate a Director of the Office of Spaceports. .
Section 51101 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Secretary of Transportation and Secretary (as used in reference to the Secretary of Transportation) mean the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Director of the Office of Spaceports. . Section 51102 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Of the amounts made available to the Secretary under section 48103 of title 49, one-half of 1 percent shall be set aside for project grants under this chapter. .
The analysis for chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 50924. Office of Spaceports. . The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study regarding spaceport activities carried out pursuant to chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, including— funding options such as establishing a common user fee for launch providers or launch customers; the adaptation of compliance requirements of the Airport Improvement Program for the unique operation of spaceports; and any necessary changes to improve the spaceport application review process.
In reviewing funding options described under paragraph (1)(A), the Comptroller General shall distinguish between spaceports that are user-funded and those that are not. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the study required under paragraph (1). Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall submit to Congress a report that— describes the demand for launches and ways to improve and enhance space infrastructure; analyzes whether additional domestic spaceports, particularly spaceports capable of launch to polar orbits, are necessary to satisfy some of the demand; and outlines any potential locations for such spaceports.
If the report under subsection
(d)contains a recommendation of a potential location for a spaceport, the Assistant Secretary for Commercial Space Transportation may collaborate with the applicable State government, local government, or private industry representing the area identified to facilitate the establishment and licensing of a spaceport.