Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy
Today, the National Space Council released the National Strategy for Planetary Protection. This Strategy will advance the Nation’s role in the sustainable exploration of space by appropriately protecting other planetary bodies and the Earth from potentially …
National Space Council Releases Strategy on Planetary Protection Read more »
Today the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) published new, experimental statistics on the U.S. space economy in the Survey of Current Business, including estimates of GDP, gross output, employment, and compensation by industry, …
Commerce Releases Experimental Statistics on the Space Economy Read more »
Today, President Trump issued a new National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion (Space Policy Directive-6). It is intended to ensure the development and use of space nuclear power and propulsion systems when appropriate …
President Issues National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Read more »
On December 16, 2020, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross published an opinion piece in Space News titled, “Space Commerce Accelerating.” The op-ed discusses the role of the U.S. commercial space industry in the new space …
Secretary Ross Op-Ed: Space Commerce Accelerating Read more »
Today, the White House released President Donald Trump’s National Space Policy providing direction for all United States space activities. View policy at archives.gov (1.3 MB PDF) View White House fact sheet View statement from the President …
President Trump Issues New National Space Policy Read more »
Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross participated in the eighth meeting of the National Space Council, held at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He delivered an update on the Administration’s efforts to foster the growth of …
Secretary Ross Remarks from 8th National Space Council Meeting Read more »
On Friday, November 20, 2020, NOAA awarded its first contracts to purchase commercially available space-based radio occultation (RO) data for use in NOAA’s operational weather forecasts. The two-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with …
NOAA Awards First Commercial RO Contracts Supporting Operational Weather Forecasting Read more »
The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) announces an event to solicit input from the commercial space industry and the related information technology sector regarding the design, development, operation and governance for Space Policy Directive-3 (SPD-3): …
Industry Day for SPD-3: Open Architecture Data Repository Read more »
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced the publication of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements Final Rule for commercial space transportation launches and reentries. “This historic, comprehensive …
On September 30, 2020, NOAA released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking information on commercial capabilities to inform a potential Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) Round 3 for terrestrial weather applications, as well as future …
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $444,009 grant to the Maine Space Grant Consortium in Augusta, Maine, to develop a strategic plan for the Maine SpacePort Complex. The project, …
Commerce Awards Matching Grant for Maine Spaceport Planning Read more »
Kevin O’Connell, Director of the Office of Space Commerce, spoke about space situational awareness at the 21st Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference, held virtually. Below are his remarks as prepared for …
Today, President Donald J. Trump issued Space Policy Directive-5 (SPD-5), the Nation’s first comprehensive cybersecurity policy for space systems. View SPD-5 at archives.gov View fact sheet at archives.gov (PDF) SPD-5 establishes key cybersecurity principles to …
President Signs Space Cybersecurity Policy Directive Read more »
On August 27, Office of Space Commerce Director Kevin O’Connell represented the Commerce Department at the 7th meeting of the high-level U.S.-Japan Comprehensive Dialogue on Space in Tokyo, Japan. O’Connell provided updates on the Department’s …
Commerce Participates in U.S.-Japan Space Dialogue Read more »
On August 27, the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the STEM Talent Challenge to develop or expand regional workforce capacity to support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future (including space commerce), …
Today, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) released their Congressionally directed study, “Space Traffic Management: Assessment of the Feasibility, Expected Effectiveness, and Funding Implications of a Transfer of Space Traffic Management Functions.” The findings …
On August 4, 2020, NOAA released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the first purchase of space-based commercial radio occultation (RO) data for use in NOAA’s operational weather forecasts. The RFP is open for 30 …
NOAA Seeks Proposals for First Operational RO Data Buy Read more »
On July 29, 2020, the Department of Commerce released this webinar video on its ongoing development of a Space Economy Satellite Account to measure the size of the U.S. space economy. Following introductory remarks by …
July 29 Webinar on Space Economy Satellite Account Read more »
On July 23, the National Space Council released “A New Era for Deep Space Exploration and Development,” a strategy paper that supports an ambitious vision for human space exploration and development. “The U.S. vision for …
White House Releases Moon-Mars Development Strategy Read more »
On July 21, the Commerce Department published a Federal Register notice announcing its finding, pursuant to the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, that satellite imagery of Israel is readily and consistently available from non-U.S. commercial sources at a …
On June 26, 2020, NOAA released the summary of the results of Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) Round 2. In Round 2, NOAA evaluated GNSS radio occultation data from two U.S. commercial space companies: GeoOptics and Spire. …
NOAA Releases Results of Commercial Weather Data Pilot Round 2 Read more »
On June 25, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross delivered remarks to the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES), an independent advisory body to NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs office (CRSRA). Secretary Ross spoke …
Secretary Ross Addresses ACCRES on Final Remote Sensing Rule Read more »
On June 24, Office of Space Commerce Director Kevin O’Connell spoke about the new commercial remote sensing rule at the 27th meeting of NOAA’s Federal Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES). Below are his …
On June 12, Office of Space Commerce Director Kevin O’Connell delivered the closing keynote speech for CyberSat Digital Week (June 8-12, 2020), an online event dedicated to space cybersecurity. Below are his remarks as prepared …