Intern Insight #4 By OSC’s student intern Chad McElroy: Space sustainability is a hot topic in the space industry and at the U.S. Department of Commerce as well. This week, while supporting a DOC-wide meeting on the topic, I gained a greater understanding of two international forums leading discussions on space governance and space sustainability: the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), also part of the UN. COPUOS encourages international cooperation on peaceful space activities, including the establishment of norms for the use of outer space and the implementation of UN space treaties such as the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue and Return Agreement, Liability Convention, and Registration Convention. COPUOS brings a level of legitimacy to norms and best practices that no other body can match, and has become the primary multilateral forum discussing issues like non-interference, lunar operations, and space resources. On the other hand, the ITU manages issues related to space-based communications and radio spectrum usage among its 193 member states and nearly 900 members of various sectors, including academia and private companies. In addition to managing frequency allocations and standards, the ITU facilitates the international assignment of spacecraft to geostationary orbit “slots.” As issues such as orbital load capacity continue to be discussed, the allocation of increasingly scarce orbits is becoming an important policy consideration for space sustainability – not just in GEO, but in LEO and even cislunar space. Not all space objects are comsats, but almost all use radio communications, so frequency regulation is a way for governments to “touch” the vast majority of space objects. Through organizations like COPUOS and ITU, nations and sectors are coming together to ensure space remains accessible and usable into the future.
Office of Space Commerce
Government Administration
Washington, District of Columbia 11,859 followers
Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy
About us
The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is the principal unit for space commerce policy activities within the Department of Commerce. Its mission is to foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry. OSC is also responsible for licensing commercial remote sensing space systems and for fielding the Traffic Coordination System for Space, #TraCSS.
- Website
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https://www.space.commerce.gov/
External link for Office of Space Commerce
- Industry
- Government Administration
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Type
- Government Agency
- Founded
- 1988
- Specialties
- public policy, regulation, space, space situational awareness, international cooperation, space commerce, advocacy, space sustainability, and spaceflight safety
Locations
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Primary
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20230, US
Employees at Office of Space Commerce
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Mariel Borowitz
Associate Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology
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Jason Kim
Chief of Staff at DOC’s Office of Space Commerce
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Ethan Baumann
Systems Engineering Lead for the Office of Space Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS)
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Gabriel Swiney
Director of Space Policy, Advocacy, and International
Updates
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Now hiring: Compliance Specialist, Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Division. Analyze and ensure regulatory compliance of satellite remote sensing systems with law, regulation, and licenses. GS-13/14 equivalent. Apply by Oct 18: https://lnkd.in/gB-5BJxG Federal employees, veterans, and other status candidates should apply via this link: https://lnkd.in/ga7W5sXE
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U.S. Department of Commerce's Deputy Secretary Don Graves addresses the inaugural meeting of the NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES). This morning, the committee established three subcommitees: 1️⃣ Licensing of private remote sensing space systems 2️⃣ Commercial space mission authorization 3️⃣ Space sustainability, including space situational awareness #ACEScommittee
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Tune in to the afternoon session & public comment of our Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES) meeting at the new link: https://lnkd.in/g2bBWhYH
Happening now: Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES) meeting at the U.S. Department of Commerce talking commercial space regulations and considering ways to improve them. Tune in: https://lnkd.in/eViv3knu #ACEScommittee
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Happening now: Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES) meeting at the U.S. Department of Commerce talking commercial space regulations and considering ways to improve them. Tune in: https://lnkd.in/eViv3knu #ACEScommittee
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For those who missed NOAA's Community Day on the Commercial Data Program -- or just want to relive it -- the event recording is now available online: https://lnkd.in/grB6Td8p
On September 26, the NOAA Satellite and Information Service will hold a virtual community day on the Commercial Data Program, which buys commercially available satellite data in support of pilot studies and operational weather forecasting. Learn more and register to participate: https://lnkd.in/grB6Td8p
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Office of Space Commerce reposted this
I am very pleased to have been invited to speak at SpaceVision 2024 this Friday (October 4th) in Denver, Colorado. SpaceVision2024 is hosted by SEDS-USA. SEDS is an international student organization whose purpose is to promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects. SEDS is fostering the development of future leaders and contributors in the expanding space industry. https://lnkd.in/e9jVe4di
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On Thursday, NOAA's Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES) will convene its inaugural meeting, with agenda items on remote sensing licensing and commercial space mission authorization. https://lnkd.in/eViv3knu #ACEScommittee
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“We are building TraCSS to become a foundational safety service that spacecraft operators around the world can depend on,” said Dmitry Poisik, TraCSS Program Manager. “I’m thankful for the tremendously strong partnership that enabled the Parsons and OSC teams to launch this modern, reliable system.” #TraCSS
We have successfully delivered Phase 1.0 of NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's TraCSS program, providing crucial space traffic coordination and situational awareness services to civil and private space operators! Learn how we're advancing space safety and innovation through the program. #WeAreParsons | Office of Space Commerce https://bit.ly/47OweG3
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NEWS: The U.S. Department of Commerce launches Phase 1.0 of its Traffic Coordination System for Space (#TraCSS), now delivering basic spaceflight safety notifications to a beta group of satellite operators. Press release: https://lnkd.in/ecEdsZGm The beta users are the NOAA Satellite and Information Service, Maxar Technologies, Telesat, Intelsat, Georgia Tech - Aerospace Engineering, Planet, Eutelsat Group, Iridium, and The Aerospace Corporation. #SpaceTrafficCoordination