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 a total contract ceiling of …

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): National Space Traffic Management Policy’s …

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 update to commercial space launch …

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces Historic Commercial Space Transportation Reforms Read more »

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 guide and serve as the …

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 efforts to transition the Defense …

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), and other innovation driven businesses …

Commerce Announces $2M STEM Talent Challenge Read more »

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 reaffirm that the Office of …

Commerce Applauds NAPA Study Reaffirming the Department as the Lead Agency for Space Traffic Management Read more »