The U.S. Department of Commerce plays a significant role in the space industry through its Office of Space Commerce (OSC). The OSC is responsible for fostering the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry by coordinating policy, streamlining regulations, and providing space situational awareness services, including the development of the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). The Department also works to promote U.S. space products and services internationally, supporting companies like SpaceX in securing contracts and modernizing space-related export controls through the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Key partners include NASA, NOAA, and various international entities.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Trump administration in 2018 directed the Department of Commerce to take over space traffic management duties from the Department of Defense, including tracking the location of satellites and debris and sharing that data with satellite operators to prevent collisions in orbit.
The National Climate Task Force established by the 2021-01-27 executive order has more than 20 members including the Commerce Department and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Dr. Larry Alder was co-chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee from 2014 to 2018.
The Trump administration designated the Department of Commerce in 2018 to take over space traffic management duties from the Department of Defense.
The Trump administration in 2018 directed the Department of Commerce to provide a basic level of space situational awareness for public and private use based on the Department of Defense space catalog.
Space Policy Directive 3 directed the Air Force to transition civil space traffic management activities to the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce in June 2018.
The Commerce Department requested $15,000,000 for the combined Office of Space Commerce and CRSRA in its fiscal year 2021 budget proposal primarily to support planned work on space traffic management.
The Senate provided $11,800,000 for the Office of Space Commerce within the Department of Commerce.
The responsibility for space traffic management will be transferred from U.S. Space Command to the Commerce Department over the next few years.
The Department of Commerce has been working to implement Space Policy Directive 3 but has been slowed by a lack of funding appropriated by Congress.
S. 4827 would codify elements of Space Policy Directive 3, the policy signed in June 2018 that directs the Department of Commerce to take over civil STM responsibilities from the Department of Defense.
Space Policy Directive-3, issued in 2018, designated the Department of Commerce to take over the space traffic management public service responsibility.
The Department of Commerce plans to vet incoming data to ensure it provides the same level of service as data from the Space Surveillance Network.
Washington State’s Department of Commerce tested Starlink with Hoh Tribe members at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those users were able to use it successfully for telehealth appointments and virtual learning sessions.
ispace worked with SelectUSA, a program in the U.S. Department of Commerce, when selecting Colorado for its U.S. workplace.
The Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce has a goal to establish a civilian space traffic management operation by 2024.
U.S. Space Command is working with the Department of Commerce to build concepts, share technology, and develop processes and procedures for space traffic management.
The Commerce Department is seeking to use the NAPA study’s endorsement to increase support for Office of Space Commerce funding in FY-21 appropriations.
For fiscal year 2021, the Trump administration requested $15,000,000 for the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce to help fund a transition of civil space traffic management responsibilities.
Doug Lamborn supports the Commerce Department taking on space situational awareness, debris tracking, and deconfliction responsibilities.