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 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 final rule for commercial remote …
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 at federalregister.gov The new final …
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 for the export and reexport …
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 delivery. Remarks of Kevin M. …
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 Space Policy Directives on space …
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 process. He told the committee, …
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, last updated in 2006, to …
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 under Space Policy Directives 2 …
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) Download section-by-section analysis (PDF) Section-by-Section …
Legislative Proposal to Establish Bureau of Space Commerce Read more »
Today, the Commerce Department published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Licensing Private Remote Sensing Space Systems. View notice in the Federal Register View public comments at regulations.gov Commerce is considering revisions to its regulations for the licensing …
Request for Comments on Remote Sensing Regulatory Reform Read more »
Today, during the third meeting of the National Space Council, President Trump signed Space Policy Directive-3, the first National Space Traffic Management Policy. The policy provides guidelines and direction to ensure that the United States is a leader in providing …
Today, President Trump signed a space policy directive to reform America’s commercial space regulatory framework, ensuring the nation’s place as a leader in space commerce. The directive includes recommendations developed by the National Space Council regarding commercial space transportation regulations, …
President Signs Directive on Space Regulatory Reform Read more »