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Space: The Final Frontier for Standards
Wrapped snugly in a custom container, seven carefully chosen materials left Earth on Aug. 24, 2025, traveling at 17,500 mph. Nestled at the top of a Falcon 9 rocket, house dust, freeze-dried human liver and …
Category: Space Economy
The Commerce Department facilitates the growth of the U.S. space economy through a variety of means, including studying economic trends in the commercial space market and supporting the space sector’s needs for commercial financing and insurance.
NASA Seeks Feedback on Civil Space Technology Shortfalls
Background: NASA is refining its strategy for prioritizing technology investments to evolve into a stronger and more resilient tech base for civil space. NASA has identified a list of 32 technology shortfalls – technology areas requiring further …
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OSC Seeks Input Regarding U.S.-India Space Commerce
The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is seeking U.S. stakeholder perspectives and feedback regarding the regulation and competitiveness of U.S. space businesses in the Indian market. This information will support U.S. government preparation for the …
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President Trump Signs Executive Order on Ensuring American Space Superiority
On December 18, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order that sets a bold vision for an America First space policy, ensuring the United States leads the world in space exploration, security, and commerce. …
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OSC Seeks Stakeholder Feedback on Draft “Mission Authorization” Concept
Section 5 of Executive Order 14335, “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” directs the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to develop and “propose a process for individualized mission authorizations for activities that are […] not clearly …
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U.S. Government Provides Feedback on Draft E.U. Space Act
On June 24, 2025, the European Commission released draft text of the EU Space Act (EU Space Act – European Commission); and, on Wednesday, June 25, the accompanying Vision for a European Space Economy (Vision for the European Space …
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Financing the Final Frontier
Date: December 2, 2025, 9:00am – 12:30pm Private capital has poured into the space industry at record levels over the past five years, fueling rapid growth and momentum— but also exposing growing pains as companies …
OSC & CCIA Host “Shaping the Future of Space” Roundtable Discussion
On September 2nd, the NOAA Office of Space Commerce (OSC) and the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) convened a “Shaping the Future of Space” roundtable event, bringing together leaders in government and the U.S. …
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Breaking Ground on Space Research: OSC & NIST Partner with Rhodium Scientific to Study Space-Flown Reference Materials
In the early morning hours of Sunday, August 24, 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center. Onboard this NASA Commercial Resupply Services-33 flight was a wide array of reference materials – …
OSC Hosts Circular Space Economy Seminar
Today, the NOAA Office of Space Commerce kicked off the second seminar in our “Circular Space Economy” series, co-hosted with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. For more information about this event, visit the …
President Trump Signs Executive Order to Enable Competition in the Commercial Space Industry
On August 13, 2025 President Trump took bold action to unlock the heavens for American commerce. The Administration enacted Executive Order “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” providing U.S. space entrepreneurs with long-sought regulatory guidance …
OSC, NIST to Host Second Circular Space Economy Seminar
The NOAA Office of Space Commerce invites you to attend the next seminar in our “Building an In-Space Circular Economy” series, co-hosted with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This seminar builds upon the …
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OSC Seeks Stakeholder Feedback on the EU Space Act
Office of Space Commerce logo
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the European Commission released draft text of the EU Space Act (EU Space Act – European Commission); and, on Wednesday, June 25, the accompanying Vision for a European Space Economy (Vision for the European …
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Seminar: Lunar Policy for a Thriving Lunar Economy
Lunar Policy Forum Seminar
On June 2, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology welcomed Dr. Antonino Salmeri, Director of the Lunar Policy Platform, for a seminar and discussion …
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Circular Space Economy Seminar on February 13
On February 13, the Office of Space Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) co-hosted a public seminar on building a circular space economy. View video recording at NIST.gov The circular space …
Op-Ed by Deputy Secretary Graves
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 …
DOC Space Accomplishments Report, 2021-2024
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 …
Senate Testimony on Mission Authorization and SSA
On December 13, OSC Director Richard DalBello testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, at a hearing on “Government Promotion of Safety and Innovation in the New Space Economy.” Below is his …
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Remarks from The Economist’s Space Economy Summit
On October 12, 2023, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves delivered virtual remarks at The Economist’s Space Economy Summit, addressing the Department of Commerce’s efforts to grow the space economy. Among other topics, he discussed how the …
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Commerce Updates U.S. Space Economy Statistics for 2012-2021
On June 27, 2023, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released updated statistics on the U.S. space economy, building on earlier estimates published in December 2020 and January 2022. The statistics show that, …
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Remarks from Space Symposium 2023
This morning, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves delivered keynote remarks during the plenary session of the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO. His remarks provided an update on the Commerce Department’s activities to promote …
FY23 Budget Proposes $87.7M for Office of Space Commerce
On March 28, 2022, the White House released the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request for the Department of Commerce. The President’s budget proposes $87.7 million for the Office of Space Commerce, a $77.7 …
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Commerce News Release on Trade Advocacy Wins for U.S. Commercial Space Firms
Today, the Commerce Department issued a news release touting its role in helping American companies succeed in the new frontier of space commerce. The Department’s new strategic plan released March 28, 2022, includes objectives to advance and …
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Space Commerce in DOC’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2026
Cover of the DOC Strategic Plan for 2022-2026
Today, the Department of Commerce released its updated Strategic Plan for 2022-2026. Strategic Objective 1.7 of the plan is to “Advance U.S. leadership in the global commercial space industry.” View the strategic plan (16 MB …
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