U.S. Department of Commerce

The Commerce Department is working with the National AI Initiative Office in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to recruit top-level candidates to serve on the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee.

Space Foundation’s Center for Innovation and Education piloted the Space Commerce Entrepreneurship Program in 2019 with workshops across the continental United States under a U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency grant.

Paula Trimble previously worked at SpaceNews, covered GPS at another publication, worked at the Commerce Department, worked in private industry, and worked at the Department of Defense rapid prototyping office.

As head of the Office of Space Commerce, Kevin O’Connell led the Commerce Department’s efforts to take over civil space traffic management functions that were previously under the Department of Defense.

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the subcommittee, said she was concerned that three years after publication of SPD-3 the Commerce Department had been slow to develop the open architecture data repository and had commissioned additional studies.

Senators at the 2021-07-22 hearing warned that slow Commerce Department action to implement the civil space traffic management system outlined in Space Policy Directive 3 (2018) could threaten U.S. leadership in space.

Rick Spinrad was nominated to be administrator of NOAA and undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere at the Department of Commerce on April 22.

Weather satellites procured by the Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce provide meteorological data to numerous national and international organizations.

Collision warning duties for space traffic are expected to transition to the Department of Commerce by 2024.

A 2018 Trump administration policy directive ordered transfer of civil and commercial spaceflight safety responsibilities to the Department of Commerce.

The Commerce Department introduced new rules that streamlined the licensing process for satellite imaging providers.

The 2020 Commerce Department rules compare U.S. remote sensing systems with similar systems licensed by other nations and apply minimal regulation to systems with capabilities similar to those already available while imposing greater scrutiny on systems that offer improved capabilities.

Space Policy Directive 3 in June 2018 directed the Commerce Department, through the Office of Space Commerce, to take over civil space traffic management work from the Defense Department, a transition that is ongoing.

The Commerce Department’s office of public affairs did not respond to a 2021-03-10 request for comment about the industry groups’ letter.

The Aerospace Industries Association, Commercial Spaceflight Federation, and Satellite Industry Association sent a 2021-03-09 letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo asking the Commerce Department to commit to continued support and funding for the Office of Space Commerce.

The Aerospace Industries Association, Commercial Spaceflight Federation, and Satellite Industry Association called for the Commerce Department to fund the Office of Space Commerce at a level reflective of its critical role supporting the space industry.

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.