,,iv #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #dgc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #b1 #bjai,mr4 ,babin submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,,resolution ,to declare that space launch is a developmental activity1 not a form of transportation1 and that a process exists for investigating commercial space launch reentry activities4 ,whereas ,h4,r4 #cidb1 the ,commercial ,space ,launch ,act1 was introduced in the ,house of ,representatives on ,september #ba1 #aihc1 referred exclusively to the ,committee on ,science and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives1 and signed into law as ,public ,law #ih-ege on ,september #cj1 #aihd2 ,whereas the ,commercial ,space ,launch ,act 7,public ,law #ih-ege7 established the commercial space launch industry #ce years ago2 ,whereas the ,commercial ,space ,launch ,act 7,public ,law #ih-ege7 forms the basis of commercial space legislation and is codified as chapter #eji of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code2 ,whereas chapter #eji of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 establishes the licensing1 experimental permit1 and monitoring processes required for commercial space launch and reentry activities2 ,whereas commercial space launch regulations are published in parts #djj through #dfj of chapter ,,iii of title #ad1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as of the date of the adoption of this resolution72 ,whereas commercial space launch licensees-- 7#a7 are required by ,federal statute and regulation to submit an accident investigation plan as part of a launch application and to submit to ,federal ,government observer access at licensee sites2 and 7#b7 are1 under such chapter #eji1 subject to modifications1 prohibitions1 preemptions1 suspensions1 and revocations of licenses and to administrative hearings1 judicial review1 and investigations and inquiries2 ,whereas the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives 7in this resolution referred to as the ,committee71 through both oversight and legislation1 has1 since the #aifjs1 been the lead entity in addressing the tragic loss of life related to catastrophic spaceflight accidents2 ,whereas after a fire occurred in the ,apollo #a capsule during ground tests on ,january #g1 #aifg1 which resulted in the deaths of ,edward ,white1 ,gus ,grissom1 and ,roger ,chaffee1 the ,committee held a series of oversight hearings into the cause2 ,whereas1 as a result of these efforts1 the ,committee1 in the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration ,authorization ,act of #aifh 7,public ,law #ij-fg71 required the establishment of the independent ,aerospace ,safety ,advisory ,panel1 resulting in the first time ,congress addressed issues relating to space accidents2 ,whereas the ,committee held extensive oversight hearings after the ,space ,shuttle ,challenger and ,space ,shuttle ,columbia accidents1 and considered legislation related to space accident investigations that was referred exclusively to the ,committee2 ,whereas chapter #gjg of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 established the ,human ,space ,flight ,independent ,investigation ,commission1 pursuant to provisions from the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration ,authorization ,act of #bjje 7,public ,law #aji-aee7 and in response to the ,space ,shuttle ,columbia accident2 ,whereas the ,columbia ,accident ,investigation ,board 7referred to in this resolution as the ,board7 found ,it is unlikely that launching a space vehicle will ever be as routine an undertaking as commercial air travel--certainly not in the lifetime of anybody who reads this42 ,whereas the ,board continued by reporting ,columbia's failure to return home is a harsh reminder that the ,space ,shuttle is a developmental vehicle that operates not in routine flight but in the realm of dangerous exploration42 ,whereas the ,board concluded1 because of the dangers of ascent and re-entry1 because of the hostility of the space environment1 and because we are still relative newcomers to this realm1 operation of the ,shuttle and indeed all human spaceflight must be viewed as a developmental activity4 ,it is still far from a routine1 operational undertaking4 ,throughout the ,columbia accident investigation1 the ,board has commented on the widespread but erroneous perception that the ,space ,shuttle as somehow comparable to civil or military air transport4 ,they are not comparable2 the inherent risks of spaceflight are vastly higher1 and our experience level with spaceflight is vastly lower ''' 4 ,the ,board urges ,,nasa leadership1 the architects of ,u4,s4 space policy1 and the ,american people to adopt a realistic understanding of the risks and rewards of venturing into space42 ,whereas ,rule ,x7#a77p7 of the ,rules of the ,house of ,representatives for the #aafth ,congress1 assigns the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology jurisdiction over astronautical research and development1 including resources1 personnel1 equipment1 and facilities1 ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 ,national ,space ,council1 and ,outer space1 including exploration and control thereof2 and ,whereas the ,rules of the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives for the #aafth ,congress state that the ,subcommittee on ,space and ,aeronautics ,shall have jurisdiction over the following subject matter3 all matters relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and development2 national space policy1 including access to space2 sub-orbital access and applications2 ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and its contractors and government-operated labs2 space commercialization1 including commercial space activities related to the ,department of ,transportation and ,department of ,commerce2 exploration and use of outer space2 international space cooperation2 the ,national ,space ,council2 space applications1 space communications and related matters2 ,earth remote sensing policy2 civilian aviation research1 development1 and demonstration programs of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration2 space law2 other appropriate matters referred by the ,chair1 and relevant oversight43 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 declares that space launch is a developmental activity1 not a form of transportation2 and 7#b7 finds that a process exists for investigating commercial space launch and reentry activities4