Most of the discussion during the three-hour session revolved around an update to commercial launch law called the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship, or SPACE, Act. The legislation was formally introduced May 12 by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), along with committee chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and space subcommittee chairman Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.)

The bill's central provisions included an extension of both third-party launch indemnification and the "learning period" that limits regulation of commercial human spaceflight safety through the end of 2023. The learning period is set to expire on Oct. 1, while launch indemnification runs through the end of 2016.

Prior to the markup, the committee released a number of statements of support from commercial space companies and industry organizations. "It's our impression that every single space company has endorsed this bill, and not a single one is opposing it," said Smith.