The U.S. Department of Commerce Department (DoC), via the Office of Space Commerce, has issued a request for information (RFI) for commercial capabilities in space situational awareness data, and space traffic management services. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) encourages its relevant stakeholders to apply before the extended deadline of July 31, 2019.
The RFI is part of DoC's efforts to ensure that the U.S. continues to lead the world in innovation and economic prosperity from space operations, research, and communications. According to the RFI, originally issued in an April 2019 Federal Register notice, the DoC seeks public input on key aspects of current and future non-governmental space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management (STM) products, technologies, and approaches that will enhance current publicly available SSA data and STM services.
Specifically, the DoC seeks information on:
1) Specific capabilities commercial entities might currently and in the future provide to enhance the SSA data and the STM services the U.S. government currently provides through an open architecture data repository to the public;
2) SSA, STM, and orbital debris mitigation best practices; and
3) Perspectives on the appropriate regulatory structures DoC should adopt to drive the development and responsible use of such SSA and STM enhancements in order to protect national interests and further encourage U.S. commercial space investment.
See the full RFI and directions to submit feedback on regulations.gov.