(a) Executive Agencies.—
Except as provided in this chapter, a person is not required to obtain from an executive agency a license, approval, waiver, or exemption to launch a launch vehicle or operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle.
(b) Federal Communications Commission and Secretary of Commerce.— This chapter does not affect the authority of
(1) the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 (
47 U.S.C.
151 et seq.); or
(2) the Secretary of Commerce under the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (
15 U.S.C.
5601 et seq.).
(c) States and Political Subdivisions.— A State or political subdivision of a State
(1) may not adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order inconsistent with this chapter; but
(2) may adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order consistent with this chapter that is in addition to or more stringent than a requirement of, or regulation prescribed under, this chapter.
(d) Consultation.—
The Secretary of Transportation is encouraged to consult with a State to simplify and expedite the approval of a space launch or reentry activity.
(e) Foreign Countries.— The Secretary of Transportation shall
(1) carry out this chapter consistent with an obligation the United States Government assumes in a treaty, convention, or agreement in force between the Government and the government of a foreign country; and
(2) consider applicable laws and requirements of a foreign country when carrying out this chapter.
(f) Launch Not an Export; Reentry Not an Import.— A launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or payload that is launched or reentered is not, because of the launch or reentry, an export or import, respectively, for purposes of a law controlling exports or imports, except that payloads launched pursuant to foreign trade zone procedures as provided for under the Foreign Trade Zones Act (
19 U.S.C.
81a–81u) shall be considered exports with regard to customs entry.
(g) Nonapplication.— This chapter does not apply to
(1) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or
(2) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity.
