Bill > S428

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for space situational awareness and space traffic coordination, primarily through the Department of Commerce's Office of Space Commerce, which will be elevated to a bureau. The bill requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce to create a free, publicly accessible database of unclassified information about satellite locations and behaviors, including tracking data and conjunction data messages (information about potential satellite collisions). The Assistant Secretary will provide basic space situational awareness services to satellite operators at no cost, while being careful not to compete with private sector space tracking services. The bill mandates that data acquisition prioritize commercial capabilities, protect proprietary information, and encourage data standardization and international data sharing. Additionally, the legislation formally defines key terms like "space object," "orbital debris," and "space traffic coordination," and restructures the Office of Space Commerce by establishing it as a direct-reporting bureau to the Secretary of Commerce, with the Assistant Secretary appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The bill also includes provisions for a smooth transition from an office to a bureau, requiring staffing plans and transition reports to be submitted to relevant congressional committees, with the goal of minimizing administrative costs and maximizing operational efficiency in managing space-related activities.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/428/all-info