Guest: Michael Listner;  Topics:  This program is a comprehensive discussion of the newly proposed American Space Renaissance Act.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com.  Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.

We welcomed Michael Listner back to the show for this comprehensive discussion of the new proposed American Space Renaissance Act.  I strongly recommend you read Michael's three part review of the Act which is on The Space Review. I've posted the links for each part of his series in the comments section for this program.  Our detailed conversation about the Act cover two hours and eight minutes without a break.  Michael has invited your comments and feedback about the ACT and his analysis so please provide your comments on The Space Show blog for this show.  The Act is also known as HR 4945 and is currently in the House Aviation Sub Committee.  Our program was 2 hours 8 minutes in duration without a break.

Before Michael started his analysis for the Act, I asked him about changing the national mission of NASA and the National Space Policy of the U.S. to focus on space settlement.  Michael said that in Title 2, the NASA mission is altered away from science and research exploration to development which could include settlement though it does not specifically use the word settlement. Michael goes into more detail on this subject when he starts discussing Title 2.

Michael started with a summary of Title 1 which addresses national security.  Rather than detail Michael's comments, note that he spent considerable time talking about hosted payloads and the required use of U.S. launchers.  Also for Title 1, he addressed Section 1.01 regarding the National Security Space Doctrine to state that we would respond if our space assets were attacked.  Michael contrasted the proposed changes with our present policy on the matter.  Launch services in Section 1.06 were discussed given the focus on the RD180 engine and the Act's phased in requirement to use launchers with U.S. built rocket engines.

Title 2 focuses on civil space which is NASA.  Michael said the NASA mission was altered with the Pioneering Doctrine in Section 2.02.  He pointed out that this section may contradict the Article 2 of the Outer Space Treaty.  In addition, it changes the priority to space development away from science and Earth Science.  

This part of the Act establishes a commission of 21 people to develop and oversee NASA.  He said it was controversial as it takes power away from the Executive Branch.  Michael talked about the Mars provisions which he said were controversial as NASA was to come up with a specific and focused Mars plan within five years.  Much of this title seeks to hold people and agencies accountable.  Another topic discussed was the switch to multi-year funding.  In his Title 2 comments, Michael focused on additional topics such as the ISS and LEO, plus he fielded a question from a listener in Finland about international ramifications of the Act.   Before moving to Title 3, Michael addressed some of the issues in Section 205 regarding Space Debris Mitigation.  With debris mitigation, Michael spoke to mission authorization and the possible role of congress in this effort.

Title 3 is focused on Commercial Space and the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.  Michael started this discussion with budget and funding issues provided in the Act.  This discussion included Michael's analysis on regulations and the types of regulations for commercial space.  Michael noted that Section 302 addressed spaceports with the suggestion that the market might not yet be there for this part of the industry.  Situational awareness  was brought up as was space traffic management and a proposal for on orbit authority. 

Title 3 also addressed prizes, remote sensing licensing reform, space competitiveness, liability insurance and financial responsibility issues plus some IRS issues.  Coordination with the Commercial Space Industry was specified in this part of the Act.

Please post your comments/questions in the comments section for this show on The Space Show website.   You can reach Michael through his website, www.spacelawsolutions.com.