Office of Space Commerce

Monday at the Saudi Arabia Centre for Space Futures, OSC's Richard DalBello and Mariel Borowitz will join a World Economic Forum roundtable discussion on next steps for global space data sharing and traffic coordination to address the risk of space debris. #SpaceTrafficCoordination

Intern Insight #11 by OSC’s student intern Chad McElroy: In September, I was fortunate enough to attend the American Bar Association’s Aviation & Aerospace Law Conference and hear a keynote speech by Gabriel Swiney, OSC’s Policy, Advocacy, and International Division (PAID) Director. I was previously unaware that the issue of insurance was a crucial, ongoing discussion in the field of space policy. Commercial enterprises often purchase insurance for their missions to mitigate the financial risks of spaceflight. For the government, on the other hand, “insurance” is essentially provided by the American taxpayer via replacement missions. I learned there are a moderate number of insurance providers supporting a market of about $500 million for insuring commercial satellites. However, as programs such as NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations ramp up, commercial entities are expected to manufacture spacecraft that are more expensive than ever. There may be single-launch commercial missions costing over $1 billion. This imbalance of supply and demand presents an issue not only for commercial enterprises seeking to insure their missions, but also for Congress and government agencies who may seek to support the space insurance industry.

"We need multilateral cooperation in its many forms... to set the stage for space activities. We need a basic understanding of how we can work together -- be it sharing information, providing mutual support in times of crisis, managing new and possibly dangerous technology, or establishing norms for trade." –Rose Croshier of the Office of Space Commerce, speaking virtually at the Africa Space Generation workshop on capacity building for sustainable development #AFSGW2024 | Space Generation Advisory Council

Now #hiring: Future Capabilities Lead for TraCSS. Perform systems engineering functions related to the identification of future needs, overseeing fundamental and applied research to explore new capabilities, and overseeing development, testing, and transition of new capabilities for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) Space Situational Awareness (SSA) mission. GS-13/14 equivalent. On-site. Apply by Dec 3: https://lnkd.in/g4cBmzRf

Tomorrow OSC's Christine Joseph addresses the #AuSDASTM2024 conference, highlighting progress on our Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) and opportunities for international coordination of space situational awareness (SSA) data. #SpaceTrafficCoordination

Tomorrow @ 3:15 p.m. PT / 6:15 p.m. ET, OSC Director Richard DalBello briefs The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Space Studies Board on the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) program and the vision for global space situational awareness (SSA) coordination. His virtual presentation will be livestreamed to the public. Stephen Volz will also speak to the Board about NOAA Satellite and Information Service programs.

Extension granted! The deadline for comments on the proposed rules and interim final rule related to space export controls has been extended from November 22 to December 23. https://lnkd.in/g5rrxbQj

Intern Insight #10 by OSC’s student intern Chad McElroy: This week, I had the opportunity to attend the two-day CONFERS | The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations Global Satellite Servicing Forum and Exhibition. CONFERS is a nonprofit trade organization that focuses on industry standards and international policies to support In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). ISAM includes activities such as satellite inspection, auxiliary stationkeeping, in-space refueling, active debris removal, satellite end-of-life disposal, in-space refurbishment, and material recycling. ISAM is key to establishing a sustained space economy and an environmentally sustainable space environment. While ISAM is often called a “novel” activity, I learned that satellite servicing has been a reality for quite some time. During the CONFERS symposium, Jill McGuire of NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration presented about the most notable space servicing campaign, which were the five Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions conducted between 1993 and 2009. Of course, those were not robotic missions, but the lessons learned during the development of the planned but canceled Hubble Robotic Servicing and Deorbit Mission continue to inform ISAM initiatives nearly 20 years later!

Today on Capitol Hill, OSC policy advisor Christine Joseph was the featured speaker in the Space Foundation’s Congressional Space Series, a lunch and learn program for legislative staff. She explained the foundational orbits used by satellite operators, the importance of space situational awareness (SSA) to promote space safety and sustainability, and OSC's progress in fielding the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). #TraCSSstar

OSC's Policy, Advocacy, and International Division Director Gabriel Swiney gave a keynote address at the 7th Annual Global Satellite Servicing Forum & Exhibition of CONFERS | The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations, discussing how the Office of Space Commerce is working to support the growing in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) industry. Gabriel detailed OSC's current regulatory role in space mission authorization, the licensing of sensors used in rendezvous and proximity operations, OSC's advocacy for standards in ISAM, and future ways that the USG could foster a vibrant and sustainable ISAM market. Additionally, he moderated a panel of private sector speakers who presented topics and challenges for the future of the commercial ISAM market.