Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy
The Office of Space Commerce promotes U.S. commercial remote sensing satellite services by contributing to the development of government policies affecting the industry, voicing the industry’s interests within interagency policy discussions, and representing U.S. commercial interests in international negotiations.
Separately, NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office licenses the operation of U.S. commercial imaging satellites and manages the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES). Learn more
On January 17, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves published an opinion piece in Space News citing the Commerce Department’s accomplishments to advance U.S. leadership in the commercial space industry. The op-ed also notes further …
On January 14, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves released a report on the Commerce Department’s commercial space accomplishments during his and Secretary Raimondo’s tenure. The report covers many achievements across multiple bureaus of the …
The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) convened the first public meeting of the newly established Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES) on Thursday, October 3, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. ACES …
On Thursday, July 25, at 2:00-4:00 p.m. EDT, OSC’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) division will hold a virtual listening session to gather input regarding 15 C.F.R. part 960, Licensing of Private Remote Sensing …
Listening Session on Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems Read more »
On March 11, 2024, the White House released the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request for the Department of Commerce. The President’s budget proposes $75.6 million for the Office of Space Commerce (OSC), a …
FY25 Budget Proposes $75.6M for Office of Space Commerce Read more »
On March 8, 2024, the Office of Space Commerce’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs division (CRSRA) published a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the condition in every CRSRA license requiring the disposal of on orbit …
RFI on Remote Sensing Satellite Disposal Requirements Read more »
NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) announces the selection of Sarah Brothers, Ph.D., as Director of OSC’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) Division, effective January 2, 2024. Dr. Brothers is an expert in remote …
Office of Space Commerce Announces New Regulatory Division Head Read more »
Today the Office of Space Commerce released a Request for Information in support of a new licensing system for Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) that will improve communication security with licensed entities, automate workflows, facilitate record search …
Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs RFI for New Licensing System Read more »
Licensing change fulfills regulatory commitment to impose conditions only on a temporary basis Today, NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) office — a division of the Office of Space Commerce — announced the modification of …
On March 15, 2023, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves delivered the Wednesday luncheon keynote speech at the SATELLITE 2023 conference in Washington, D.C. He provided an update on the Commerce Department’s progress in implementing …
Today Dr. Michael Morgan, NOAA Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, delivered the Tuesday keynote speech at the SmallSat Symposium in Mountain View, California. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery. Good morning. …
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 »
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 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 May 19, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross participated in the seventh meeting of the National Space Council, held at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, Secretary Ross announced the release of the …
Secretary Ross Remarks to National Space Council, May 2020 Read more »
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce released new regulations to improve the licensing process for private U.S. satellite remote sensing operations, helping ensure continued U.S. leadership in a critical commercial space industry. View final rule …
On January 6, 2020, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published an interim final rule to make certain items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and to impose a license requirement …
Comments Requested on New Export Licensing Rule Affecting Imagery Analysis Software Read more »
On December 3, Office of Space Commerce Director Kevin O’Connell delivered a keynote address at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd Annual Space Summit, LAUNCH: The Space Economy. Below are his remarks as prepared for …
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross spoke at the August 20, 2019, meeting of the National Space Council, held in Dulles, Virginia. He provided updates on the Department’s activities in commercial space, including implementation of the …
Secretary Ross Remarks from 6th National Space Council Meeting Read more »
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross delivered remarks at the June 4, 2019, meeting of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES). The Secretary discussed the ongoing rulemaking to overhaul NOAA’s commercial remote sensing licensing …
Today the Department of Commerce published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems. View proposed rules at federalregister.gov Commerce is proposing a complete rewrite of its current regulations, …
Commerce Proposes Streamlined Licensing Rules for Private Remote Sensing Satellites Read more »
Today, at the fourth meeting of the National Space Council, Under Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley reported on the Commerce Department’s progress in promoting U.S. space commerce and implementing the tasks assigned to it …
Commerce Provides Updates at 4th National Space Council Meeting Read more »
On October 15, 2018, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross submitted to Congress a legislative proposal to establish a new Bureau of Space Commerce headed by an Assistant Secretary for Space Commerce. Download legislative proposal (PDF) …
Legislative Proposal to Establish Bureau of Space Commerce Read more »