Legislation which US commercial launch service companies depend on to hold down launch costs has been renewed by the US Government following a year-long delay.
The Commercial Space Transportation Competitiveness Act of 2000, which was finally signed into law at the end of October, extends space launch indemnification provisions, enabling US commercial operators to minimise insurance costs, for five years.
The provisions, introduced in 1988, limit commercial operators' liability for damage caused by a launch failure to around $200 million, with the US Government responsible for the balance of up to $1.5 billion in liability specified by international treaty.
The US Aerospace Industries Association says that the renewal of indemnification - held up in Congress for a year - is a "good first step towards a legislative and regulatory climate supportive of a strong commercial launch industry".
Source: Flight International
