SCC “Frequently Asked Questions” – Office of Space Commerce

The Office of Space Commerce’s (OSC) “Space Commerce Certification” can get companies to “yes” with predictability and speed, allowing them to swiftly explore new technologies and missions to bring benefits to the American economy. Our certification process expedites and streamlines today’s laborious and sometimes duplicative system for regulating the commercial space industry with a consolidated space commerce certification process.

On August 20, 2026, OSC officially released a “Call for Interest” inviting industry participation in the “Space Commerce Certification” (SCC) framework.

Additional questions regarding the Space Commerce Certification or the Call for Interest may be directed via email to OSC’s Space Commerce Certification team at Space.Certification@noaa.gov.

General

What is the Space Commerce Certification?

The Office of Space Commerce’s “Space Commerce Certification” (SCC) is the missing “puzzle piece” for the U.S. Government authorization of private space activities. The U.S. government has licensed commercial launch and reentry, Earth remote sensing, and radio frequency use for decades. For all other in-space activities – such as In-space servicing, manufacturing, and assembly, orbital data centers, lunar operations – there hasn’t been a clearly defined path for the government to say “yes”… until now.

The Space Commerce Certification aims to provide routine, transparent, and unambiguous U.S. government authorization to activities that aren’t today clearly or straightforwardly covered by current government regulations. While the SCC in its pilot phase is voluntary, it is designed to be the “fast lane” for innovation.

Why is this needed?

The U.S. space regulatory framework has been built piecemeal over decades; and is struggling to address emerging missions as well as innovative and previously unconceived technologies. Today’s system splits regulations for commercial space activities across multiple regulators (the FCC, FAA, and here at OSC/CRSRA).

This presents multiple issues for space entrepreneurs, operators, and the U.S. government. Each regulator has its own processes and timelines and regulations often impose overlapping requirements, wasting taxpayer time and government resources. Meanwhile, this complex system of rules is silent on what companies engaged in “novel” activities must do to be authorized to operate in space. At times, companies are still waiting for an authorization answer the day before a launch. Together, this leads to regulatory uncertainty which threatens business confidence, chills investment, and stifles innovation.

How did this originate?

In the August 2025 Executive Order 14335, “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” President Trump directed the Department of Commerce to develop a process to authorize commercial activities in space not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulations – everything from satellite servicing to commercial space stations and manufacturing on the Moon.

Specifically, the Executive Order states “within 150 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall propose a process for individualized mission authorizations for activities that are covered by Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, but not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks, with the goal of expediting and streamlining authorizations to enable American space competitiveness and superiority. This proposal must solicit and consider affected agencies’ feedback on the authorization process, contain a definitive timeline for the grant or denial of authorization for proposed activities, and include clear and consistent requirements for applicants.”

How does this affect existing licenses from other regulators? Do companies still need those?

If you have an existing license from the FAA, FCC, or CRSRA (in other words, if you already have U.S.G. approval for your mission), you don’t need to take any action. We’re happy to talk to you, and to work with you to plan future missions, but we are not in the business of adding to your regulatory burden.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any United States entity is eligible to apply. Missions owned and operated by U.S. government entities are exempt from this process.

Is the certification mandatory for all companies?

No, the decision to seek a Space Commerce Certification is currently entirely voluntary. U.S. entities can still choose to use existing, traditional regulatory processes through the FAA, FCC, and OSC/CRSRA. If you have an existing license from the FAA, FCC, or CRSRA (in other words, if you already have U.S.G. approval for your mission) then you don’t need to take any action.

While the SCC is voluntary, it is designed to be the “fast lane” for innovation. By securing an SCC, you provide a verified baseline that the FAA, FCC, and CRSRA could use to fast-track or waive specific parts of their own licensing requirements, such as payload reviews or orbital debris mitigation.

What kind of missions are eligible to participate?

The proposal focuses on activities that currently fall outside of existing, straightforward legislative authorities – i.e., they are not purely Earth Remote Sensing or Radiofrequency/Communications missions. Examples include (but aren’t necessarily limited to):

● Satellite servicing and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO).

● In-space manufacturing and orbital computing
(e.g., orbital data centers).

● Lunar surface and orbit operations, including commercial missions supporting the Artemis program.

Does this “change the rules” for companies?

In short, no. Existing licensing requirements for launch/reentry (FAA) and radiofrequency communications (FCC) remain applicable and controlling.

Rather, the SCC makes it easier for in-space operators to get U.S. government authorization for their missions through a streamlined “clearinghouse” process. In the current system, missions in space have to be shoe-horned into existing regulations for launch or for radio frequency transmission.

Approval by the U.S. government comes indirectly through a launch license or radiofrequency license, even when the mission had nothing to do with launch or radio use. Now, at a much earlier stage of development, operators can come to OSC and ask for U.S. government authorization, which means certainty sooner.

How does this streamline the process?

The SCC is designed so that the FAA, FCC, and OSC/CRSRA could leverage the certification to satisfy or waive parts of their own reviews. For example:

● The FAA could accept the SCC interagency review as satisfying its requirement for a “favorable payload review.”

● The FCC could waive certain orbital debris mitigation requirements if the operator complies with an OSC certification.

● OSC/CRSRA could accept the certification as satisfying satellite disposal requirements.

Will the Space Commerce Certification cover space nuclear missions?

FAA regulates public safety for launch and reentry, whereas the Office of Space Commerce’s certification is solely for in-space activities, and will focus on mission parameters. OSC recognizes that the FAA has the expertise to regulate public safety, for nuclear energy payloads as well as all other payloads, and nothing in the certification will change that.

In a situation where a vehicle with a nuclear energy payload has a mission to the moon, FAA would regulate every aspect of public safety through the end of launch, and Commerce anticipates it would certify the operator’s plans for operation on the moon.

Does OSC have statutory authority for these regulations?

The Space Commerce Certification is not new regulation, but rather a voluntary process that will enable streamlined approval for novel commercial space activities.
OSC has statutory authority under Title 51 to advocate, coordinate, and promote space commerce within the U.S. Government. This includes authority to seek “the removal of legal, policy, and institutional impediments to space commerce.

To implement the Space Commerce Certification process, OSC will leverage the existing authorities of the agencies we’re working with. The FAA has to satisfy their policy review obligations, for example. Our process could help do that for them, meaning one less interagency authorization process for commercial operators to go through.

Pilot Phase Process

What is the Pilot Phase?

In coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of War, Department of State, NASA, and other relevant agencies, OSC will use the Space Commerce Certification pilot phase to test and further develop its proposal in a transparent manner and with expected engagement opportunities for industry stakeholders and the public.

Specifically, selected participants complete an SCC application. OSC, in coordination with other regulatory agencies, intend to review this application with the participant to identify areas of interagency concern and opportunities for mitigating actions. Once complete, an SCC would likely include OSC’s recommended best practices for the proposed mission, as informed by interagency engagement.

How will applications be selected in the Pilot Phase?

OSC will be highly selective during this initial pilot phase. Submission of an expression of interest does not guarantee selection for the initial evaluation cohort. OSC will prioritize processing missions that are critical to industry advancement, sufficiently likely to occur, represent high-utility use cases, and align closely with government interests. Additionally, OSC anticipates that the pilot phase will require active involvement from participants.

Will the Pilot Phase carry the weight of law?

No. This mission authorization pilot process will be voluntary and non-binding on all participants. Grant of an SCC during this pilot phase, on its own, will have no direct legal effect. OSC maintains discretion in all aspects, including whether to grant an SCC, and FAA and FCC maintain discretion in determining whether and in what way, if any, to consider an SCC in their regulatory process. Therefore, participants are still required to independently satisfy all existing legal requirements.

OSC’s ultimate goal is for SCC to speed and simplify additional regulatory steps. For example, the FCC has identified debris mitigation, rendezvous and proximity operations, space safety and end-of-life rules, as well as foreign ownership and national security requirements as potential areas where the information collected during the Space Commerce Certification could be used to satisfy FCC regulatory requirements. Likewise, the FAA has noted that SCC could serve as an alternative for certain portions of payload reviews. OSC anticipates that this pilot phase will demonstrate the benefits of the SCC approach and develop into a significant tool for regulatory streamlining.

Is this process final?

No. OSC will use the Space Commerce Certification pilot phase to test and further develop its proposal in a transparent manner and with expected engagement opportunities for industry stakeholders and the public. Results from the Pilot Phase will be used to inform possible future legislative, administrative, or regulatory approaches toward novel space mission authorization.

What information is required from applicants for the Pilot Phase?

Applicants will be required to submit the following information to be considered for participation within for the Pilot Phase:

1. The nominated entities full name, any affiliations, and contact information including name, email address, mailing address, and phone number;

2. Evidence of U.S. entity ownership/operation or in the case of an individual nominee, U.S. citizenship;

3. Mission Concept & Timeline: A clear description of the intended operations, the space object(s) involved, and the targeted launch/deployment timeline;

4. Regulatory Analysis: A brief explanation demonstrating that the activity is not adequately or straightforwardly covered by current FAA, FCC, or NOAA regulations, and where clarity is needed;

5. OSC Collaboration & Best Practices: A statement confirming the submitter’s commitment to working and iterating with OSC, in a manner as transparent to the public as possible, to develop best practices consistent with U.S. Government interests applicable to their intended operations.

Upon selection, the participant will be required to furnish additional information as requested within the SCC application.

How will OSC engage with applicants during the Pilot Phase?

Participants will have the opportunity to provide the agencies with feedback on the process. This input is expected to inform future regulatory approaches to better support in-space activities not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks, as intended by the Executive Order.

The Application Process

How long will the review take?

While the process, including review timelines, may evolve during and as a result of the pilot phase, the Department of Commerce is committed to a strict timeline. Once a completed application is received, the Secretary shall take no more than 120 days to issue a certification. This may be extended to 180 days if a formal interagency dispute resolution process is required.

What is the “Presumption of Approval”?

Under this proposal, the Secretary will certify an application unless there is a specific, valid basis for denial related to national security, international obligations, foreign policy, or the safety of space operations.

What happens if my application is denied?

If an application is denied, the OSC must provide a clear rationale for the decision and identify potential steps you can take to address the concerns. You may then appeal the decision or address the issues and reapply.

Supervision

What kind of “ongoing supervision” is required under the Space Commerce Certification?

Supervision is intended to be “light-touch” and proportionate to risk. It may rely on non-intrusive mechanisms like periodic attestations or limited reporting. More active engagement would only be triggered by material changes to the mission or indications of non-compliance.