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Directs the Department of Commerce to expand and formalize civilian space safety services: it upgrades the Office of Space Commerce into a Bureau, creates an Assistant Secretary for Space Commerce, and requires Commerce to collect and publish unclassified space data and provide a free basic public database and services to support safe satellite operations. The law requires protection for proprietary data, prioritizes use of commercial capabilities where practical, limits the Bureau’s staff reductions during transition, sets near-term deadlines for staffing and a transition report, and grants certain legal immunities to the government for those services.
The Secretary of Commerce shall facilitate safe operations in space and encourage development of commercial space capabilities by acquiring and disseminating unclassified data, analytics, information, and services on space activities.
The United States, its agencies and instrumentalities, and any individuals, firms, corporations, and other persons acting for the U.S. Government (including nongovernmental entities) are immune from any suit in any court for any cause of action arising from the provision or receipt of space situational awareness services or information, or any related action or omission.
The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce is authorized to acquire data, analytics, information, and services, including location tracking data, positional and orbit determination information, conjunction data messages, and other data the Secretary determines necessary to avoid collisions of space objects.
The Assistant Secretary shall provide public, no-charge access to a fully updated, unclassified database of information about space objects and behavior that includes the acquired data (except classified information or trade secrets) and associated basic analytics, tracking calculations, and conjunction data messages.
The Assistant Secretary shall provide to satellite operators, at no charge, basic space situational awareness services, including the data, analytics, information, and services described in the acquisition provisions.
Who is affected and how:
Satellite operators (commercial and civil): Gain guaranteed access to a public database and free basic space situational services (e.g., location, orbit, conjunction alerts), which can improve collision awareness and reduce operational risk. Free baseline services may reduce costs for smaller operators and new entrants.
Commercial SSA and space-data providers: Face mixed effects. The law emphasizes using commercial capabilities but also directs Commerce to provide free basic services and a public database. This could increase demand for interoperable commercial data/services while raising concerns about potential overlap or market displacement for low-end offerings.
Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies: The Bureau will take on new statutory duties and organizational responsibilities, requiring rapid staffing and transition work; other agencies may become data users or partners in space safety activities.
Government contractors and data suppliers: Could see new contracting opportunities as the Bureau acquires commercial data and analytics and integrates commercial capabilities into a public service platform.
Investors and space industry entrants: Increased predictability, a public data baseline, and clearer government role in SSA may lower barriers to entry for new satellite operators and investors focused on space services.
Legal environment: Government immunity for providing these services reduces litigation risk for the government but may limit remedies for private parties claiming harm from government-provided services or errors.
Overall effect: The legislation formalizes and expands a civilian, Commerce-led role in safe space operations, improves public access to unclassified SSA data, and balances reliance on commercial capabilities with a government-provided baseline service. It may spur operational benefits for satellite operators while creating market and legal questions for commercial SSA providers.
Replaces section 50701 of title 51 to provide new chapter definitions (including Assistant Secretary, Bureau, orbital debris, Secretary, space object, space situational awareness, and space traffic coordination).
Amends subsection (a) and other subsections of 50702, adds duties, and revises leadership provisions for the Bureau of Space Commerce.
Amends 5 U.S.C. 5315 by changing the number of Assistant Secretaries of Commerce in the Executive Schedule listing.
Amends the table of sections for chapter 507 by striking the item relating to section 50701 and inserting an updated item reflecting the amended section 50701.
Subsection (a) is amended by inserting additional text before the final period (text not fully shown in section).
Amends subsection (c) by adjusting punctuation in paragraphs (4) and (5) and adding a new paragraph (6) assigning the Bureau responsibility to perform space situational awareness and space traffic management duties.
Revises subsection (b) to establish that the Bureau is headed by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce, who is appointed by the President with Senate advice and consent, reports directly to the Secretary of Commerce, and has a rate of pay equal to Executive Schedule level IV (5 U.S.C. 5315).
Conforming amendments to subsection (d): subsection heading revised and the matter preceding paragraph (1) is amended by replacing the term 'Director' with 'Assistant Secretary'.
Establishes that on and after enactment, any reference in law or regulation to the Director of the Office of Space Commerce shall be deemed a reference to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced February 5, 2025 by John Cornyn · Last progress February 5, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 170.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with amendments. With written report No. 119-65.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.