COMMERCIALIZATION OF EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01013R000100160006-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 5, 2008
• Sequence Number: 6
• Content Type: REGULATION

Approved For Release 2011/05/17 : CIA-RDP90BO1013R000100160006-4
THE WHITE HOUSE
WAS MI NGTON
NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION
DIRECTIVE NUMBER
DRAFT
COM^ERCIALIZATION OF EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES
I. INTRODUCTION
The United States Government encourages domestic commercial
exploitation of space capabilities, technology, and services
for U.S. national benefit. The basic goals of U.S. space launch
policy are to (a) ensure a flexible and robust U.S. launch
posture to maintain space transportation leadership; (b) optimize
the management-and operation of the STS program so as to achieve
routine, cost-effective access to space; (c) exploit the unique
attributes of the STS to enhance the capabilities of the U.S.
space program; and (d) encourage the U.S. private sector develop-
ment of commercial launch operations.
II. POLICY FOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES
The U.S. Government fully endorses and will facilitate the
commercialization of Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs).
The U.S. Government will license, supervise, and/or regu-
late U.S. commercial ELV operations only to the extent required
to meet its national and international obligations and to
ensure public safety. Commercial ELV operators must comply
with applicable international, national and local laws and
regulations including security, safety, and environmental
requirements.
The U.S. Government encourages the use of its national
ranges for U.S. commercial ELV operations. Commercial launch
operations conducted from a U.S. Government national range
will, at a minimum, be subject to existing U.S. Government
range regulations and requirements. Consistent with its needs.
and requirements, the U.S. Government will identify and make
available facilities, equipment, tooling, and services that are
required to support the production and operation of U.S. commer-
cial ELVS.
The U.S. Government will have priority use of U.S. Government
facilities and support services to meet national security and
critical mission requirements. The U.S. Government will make
all reasonable efforts to minimize impacts on commercial opera-
tions.
 Approved For Release 2011/05/17 : CIA-RDP90BO1013R000100160006-4DRAFI
The U.S. Government will not directly subsidize the commer-
cialization of ELVs but will price the use of its facilities,
equipment, and services consistent with the goal of encouraging
viable commercial ELV launch activities.
The U.S. Government will encourage competition among
various systems and concepts within the U.S. private sector by
providing equitable treatment for all commercial launch operators.
The U.S. Government will review and approve any proposed
commercial launch facility and range as well as subsequent
operations conducted therefrom. Near-term demonstration or
test,, flights of commercial launch vehicles conducted from other
than a U.S. Government national range will be reviewed on a
case-by-case basis using existing licensing authority and
procedures.
III. RELATIONSHIP OF STS AND COMMERCIAL ELVS
Notwithstanding the U.S. Government policy to encourage
and facilitate private sector ELV entry into the space launch
market, the U.S. Government will continue to make the Space
Shuttle available to all authorized users -- domestic and foreign,
commercial and governmental. The U.S. Government will consider
the effects that STS pricing for commercial and foreign flights
will have on commercial launch operations. However, the price
for a commercial or foreign flight on the STS must be determined
based on the best strategy to satisfy the economic, foreign
policy, and national security interests of the United States:
IV. IMPLEMENTATION
The Department of State, for the near term, will be the
point of contact within the U.S. Government for coordinating the
U.S. Government response to private sector contact/questions on
commercial ELV activities.
An interim SIG(Space) Working Group on Commercial Launches
will be formed and chaired by the Department of State. The
Working Group will be composed of members representing the
SIG(Space) agencies and observers as well as other affected
agencies as required. Additional membership, at a minimum, will
include the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal
Communications Commission. This group will formulate recommen-
dations concerning (1) a permanent lead agency for commercial ELV
activities and (2) streamlined procedures for both the near and
long term to implement the licensing, supervision, and/or regu-
lations applicable to routine commercial launch operations from
commercial ranges. The Working Group will report its results to
the IG(Space) not later than June 30, 1983.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
 Approved For Release 2011/05/17 : CIA-RDP90BO1013R000100160006-4
11
IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES FOR COMMERCIALIZATION
OF EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES FROM U.S. GOVERNMENT NATIONAL RANGES
A. Required U.S. Government Actions
NASA and DOD, for those functions over which they respectively
have cognizance, will:
1. identify data, documentation, processes, procedures,
tooling, ground support equipment and facilities that
are available for commercial use;
2. identify the support services and facilities necessary
for commercial launches from the U.S. Government
national ranges;
3. identify the joint-use tooling, ground support equip-
ment and facilities that the U.S. Government can make
available for commercial launch operations;
4. determine the transition means, schedules, and con-
ditions for making available appropriate U.S. Govern-
ment equipment, facilities and properties;
5. to the extent practical, provide, on a reasonable
reimbursable basis, technical advice and assistance in
operations;
6. negotiate and contract for, on a reasonable reimbursable
basis, their portion of the U.S. Government services,.
facilities and equipment requested by the private
sector for commercial launch operations.
7. as required, conduct environmental analyses necessary
to ensure compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act.
B. Government Pricing Guidelines:
The price for the use of U.S. Government facilities, equip-
ment, and services, will be based on the following principles:
1. price services based on those additional costs incurred
by the U.S. Government;
2. the U.S. Government should not seek to recover ELV
design and development costs or investments associated
with launch facilities to which the U.S. Government
retains title.
3. standard tooling, equipment and residual ELV hardware
on hand at the completion of the U.S. Government's
program should be priced at a fair market value or
U.S. Government cost.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Approved For Release 2011/05/17 : CIA-RDP90BO1013R000100160006-4
 C. Commercial ELV Operator Requirements
The commercial ELV operator shall:
1. maintain all facilities and equipment leased from the
U.S. Government to a level of readiness and repair
specified by the U.S. Government;
2. provide adequate insurance to cover the loss of or
damage to U.S. Government owned systems, equipment,
facilities used by the private sector ELV operators;.
3. indemnify and hold harmless the U.S. Government against
liabilities for damage to both domestic and foreign
persons and property;
4. abide by all required U.S. Government safety criteria
and not hold the U.S. Government liable for damage
incurred by the operator resulting from U.S. Government
flight safety actions.
5. agree not to hold the U.S. Government liable for losses
resulting from scheduling delays related to joint-use
facilities and support services.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY