Commerce Dept.
Senate passes orbit debris cleanup bill
The Senate passed legislation that would direct NASA to establish a program to remove orbital debris, but supporters of the bill will have to try again in the next Congress to enact it.
Commerce and Defense Departments sign agreement on space traffic management cooperation
The Departments of Commerce and Defense have signed an agreement to cooperate on transferring responsibility for civil and commercial space traffic management.
DalBello to lead Office of Space Commerce
The Commerce Department has hired a veteran of government and industry to be the next director of the Office of Space Commerce.
Former Commerce official Kevin O’Connell joins board of advisors of startup Kayhan Space
Kayhan Space, a startup focused on space situational awareness and collision avoidance technologies, announced Aug. 17 that Kevin O’Connell has joined its board of advisors.
Op-ed | NOAA is stalling U.S. space traffic management
Rather than move forward with efforts to work with industry on space traffic management solutions, the Commerce Department is funding studies of topics that in some cases were addressed in a report last year by NAPA, risking both U.S. leadership in the field and space safety generally.
U.S. Space Command chief makes case for civilian space traffic control
Gen. James Dickinson said he supports the transfer of space traffic control to the Department of Commerce “where it can be better managed."
Commerce Department drafting space traffic management concepts as it awaits funding
The transfer of space traffic management responsibilities from the military to a civilian agency in the Commerce Department is moving ahead even though Congress has yet to provide funding and authorities.
Report endorses giving Commerce Department responsibility for space traffic management
A report commissioned by Congress agreed with the administration that the Commerce Department is the best agency to handle civil space traffic management (STM) responsibilities.
Commerce Department hopes study will free up funding for space traffic management work
Two years after a space policy directive gave it responsibility for space traffic management, the Commerce Department says it is making progress on implementing that policy as it continues to seek additional funding from Congress.
Remote sensing industry welcomes revamped regulations
Satellite imaging companies are embracing long-awaited reforms to commercial remote sensing regulations, although one member of Congress doesn’t think the changes go far enough.
