[The combination of the August doldrums as well as being on travel this week has contributed to the lack of postings. My apologies.]
The results of the compromise on HR 3752 are now available in the form of S.2772, the Space Commercial Human Ascent Serving Expeditions (CHASE) Act. This is a new bill that, presumably, will take the place of the original HR 3752. The content of the legislation is very similar to the original bill, with this new definition of a suborbital vehicle:
a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole or in part, intended for flight on a suborbital trajectory whose thrust is greater than its lift for the majority of the rocket-powered portion of its flight.
The subtle changes in the wording (“rocket-propelled in whole or in part”) would appear to address the concerns made by Rocketplane earlier this year that caused Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) to put a hold on the legislation. (Inhofe introduced S.2772 on July 22, according to Thomas.) Presumably the Senate Commerce Committee will take up the bill when the Senate reconvenes after Labor Day. I’m sure there are readers with more insight and experience who may shed more light on the legislation ands its prospects for passage this year.
I’ve always had a slight problem with the term “rocket.” It is conceivable that some vehicles will achieve suborbital altitudes without a rocket.