COMMERCIAL SPACE WORKING GROUP - U.S. COMMERCIAL SPACE POLICY INITIATIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B00181R001801700033-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 16, 2012
• Sequence Number: 33
• Content Type: MISC

; Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP92B00181 R001801700033-8
The Commercial Space Working Group has been asked to identify
initiatives that should be included in the U.S. Commercial Space
Policy. These initiatives are listed below in near-term and
long-term categories. The near-term initiatives are consistent
with existing policy and seek to encourage private sector
investment in space activities. The long-term initiatives seek
to extend the free enterprise system into space commerce.
Underlying these objectives is the need fora stable and
consistent Commercial Space Policy that clearly defines the role
of Government relative to the Commercial sector.
Over the past 30 years, there have been 36 major changes in five
areas of National Space Policy affecting commercial ventures. A
stable and consistent Government policy is essential to encourage
private sector investment in space activities.
I. NEAR TERM INITIATIVES:
The following initiatives concerning: A) the Model Range Use
Agreement; B) management of U.S. Government launch service
requirements; and C) private sector remote sensing operations;
are intended to encourage private sector investment in space
activities.
A. Modifications to Model Range Use Agreement:
The Model Range Use Agreement is an interim arrangement that
provides for private sector access to U.S. Government launch
facilities and allocation of risk associated with the use of
those facilities. The long term objective is to encourage
development of privately owned and operated ranges and launch
facilities.
Conditions on Preemption: The U.S. Government should not preempt
commercial launches on U.S. Government ranges except in a
national emergency.
Cap on Third Party Liability: Legislation should be enacted that
caps third party liability exposure for private sector launch
service providers, their sub-contractors and customers.
U.S. Government Liability: The U.S. Government should accept
liability for its own negligence on Government ranges.
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B. Management of U.S. Government Launch Service
Requirements:
Interagency Oversight Mechanism for Payload Management: The U.S.
Government should establish an,inter-agency group for government
payload management. Membership and functions should be as
follows:
o Membership: This group should be chaired by OMB, and should
include representatives of NASA, DOD, DOT and Commerce.
o Functions: The group should have three main functions:
First, it should identify all non-critical military,
civil/science and shuttle unique payloads as well as other
payloads (such as "Getaway Specials" and "Hitchhikers"
manifested on the shuttle) that can utilize commercial
launch services.
Second, it should establish procedures for open and
competitive bidding for launching these payloads by
commercial launch service providers.
Third, the group should have input into the shuttle
manifest, to ensure a'proper balance among civil/science,
foreign policy and national security payloads requiring the
unique capabilities of the shuttle.
C. Remote Sensing Policies
Five Meter Resolution: The U.S. Government should
unconditionally allow up to five meter resolution on U.S. remote
sensing satellites
II. LONG TERM INITIATIVES:
The following initiatives seek to permanently establish the free
enterprise system in space.
Transfer of Excess Launch Facilities: Excess launch facilities
should be transferred to the Department of Transportation
consistent with the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, for sale
or lease through auction or lottery to private launch service
providers.
Loan Guarantees For-High Risk Ventures: The Government should
provide loan guarantees for high-risk commercial ventures in
space. Such guarantees currently are necessary in order to
overcome industry's uncertainty over the U.S. Government's
commitment to a long-term, stable commercial space policy.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP92B00181 R001801700033-8
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Science and Technology Center: The U.S. Government should
promote the establishment of a privately owned and operated
Science and Technology Center, consistent with the authority
granted under the National Cooperative Research Act of 1984, the
Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and Executive Order 12591.
Renegotiate International Liability Convention: The Convention
on International Liability For Damage Caused By Space Objects of
November 29, 1971 should be renegotiated to establish
internationally acceptable limits on third party liability.
Private Sector Moon Base: The President should call for a
submission by the private sector by September 1, 1988, of a
feasibility study for a manned Moon base, developed, owned and
operated by the private sector, to be established by the year
2000.
III. STABLE AND CONSISTENT GOVERNMENT POLICY:
The following basic policy initiatives clearly define the role of
Government relative to the Commercial sector. They are essential
to meeting both near and long-term objectives.
Government Research and Development: The U.S. Government should
conduct fundamental and advanced research and development, but
once the technology is developed and demonstrated by an
operational prototype, that technology should be transferred to
the private sector with adequate protection of its proprietary
value.
Procurement Reform: The U.S. Government should procure,
commercially available goods and services, including launch
services, remote sensing data, space platforms and other space
related facilities, whenever possible.
Competition With Private Sector: The U.S. Government should make
a firm commitment not to compete with the private sector.
Elimination of Legal and Regulatory Impediments: The U.S.
Government should eliminate laws and regulations that impede
private sector investment in space activities.
Encourage Free Trade Internationally: The U.S. Government should
take the steps necessary to ensure free trade in commercial space
activities internationally.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP92BOO181 R001 801700033-8