Commerce Dept.
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.
Commerce Department releases streamlined commercial remote sensing regulations
The Commerce Department released long-awaited new commercial remote sensing regulations May 19 that eliminate many of the restrictions previously imposed on such systems.
Spending bill highlights ongoing debate on Commerce Department’s role in space traffic management
Language in a fiscal year 2020 spending bill suggests that Congress is unlikely to act soon on the future of the Office of Space Commerce or the Commerce Department’s proposed role in handing civil space traffic management.
U.S. Air Force to begin transferring space situational awareness data to Commerce Department
Kevin O’Connell, director of the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce, said the repository, called the Unified Data Library, is the first step in the transfer of some space situational awareness responsibilities as requested by the White House last year.
Commerce Department seeks to increase American space industry’s global competitiveness
The Commerce Department wants to improve the standing of the American space industry in an increasingly competitive global market through a combination of regulatory reform and promotional efforts.
Commerce Dept. sends White House 13 space-focused spectrum recommendations
The U.S. Commerce Department on March 26 sent a report to the White House declaring sufficient access to radio frequency spectrum critical for a healthy domestic space industry, but avoided weighing in on contested spectrum issues within the space and telecommunications industries.
Commerce Department seeks to encourage more space industry investment
Even amid growing venture capital investment in space companies, the Commerce Department is making efforts to encourage more institutional investment into the industry.
U.S. Air Force releasing more data on orbits of military satellites
As the Commerce Department works on plans to take over civilian space traffic management responsibilities, the U.S. Air Force is making more data available on the positions of military satellites.
NASA, Defense Department support giving space traffic management role to Commerce
As the House prepares to take up a bill giving the Commerce Department new authorities for space traffic management, the leaders of NASA and U.S. Strategic Command offered their support for such a move.
Commerce Department moves ahead with space regulatory reforms
Nearly a month after the signing of a policy directive calling for commercial space regulatory reforms, Commerce Department officials said this week they’re moving ahead on a number of fronts.
Cruz still studying what agency should oversee non-traditional commercial space missions
A key senator says he’s keeping an open mind regarding who in the federal government should have responsibility for the oversight of “non-traditional” commercial space activities.
Foust Forward | For commercial space, fewer-stop, not one-stop, shopping
For an administration that likes to play up even the smallest space policy milestone, the signing of Space Policy Directive 2 on May 24 almost flew under the radar.
