Orbital Debris Action Needed, Senate Commerce Hears

Commerce hearing. “Potential for catastrophic accidents if we continue with the status quo is real,” said Senate Space Subcommittee Chairman John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. “We can’t wait for the next collision to occur before taking action,” including enacting the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. S-1260 would shift responsibility for handling commercial SSA issues to the Commerce Department and includes $20 million for an elevated Office of Space Commerce (see 2106080074). “The space around Earth is becoming congested and the problem is only going to grow,” said ranking member Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. “Government must take the lead” on SSA and to “prevent and remove orbital debris.” The federal government should “act now to implement a more modern” SSA environment, “including leveraging both commercial and government capabilities to yield a U.S.-developed cutting-edge space sustainability model,” Stroup said. Any revised space safety framework shouldn’t dictate “specific technologies to meet requirements.” A “successful, modern and sustainable space traffic management system will include all of the types of space activities,” Stroup said. “The U.S. cannot accomplish this on its own and, if regulations are not appropriate, satellite operators will continue to ‘forum shop’ and license systems in foreign administrations.” Other witnesses supported further empowering Commerce’s OSC. Commercial Spaceflight Federation President Karina Drees recommended the FCC “modify its rules to require that any company that serves the U.S. market must comply with U.S. orbital debris rules. This requirement would significantly improve global orbital debris activities, while leveling the playing field for companies licensed in” the U.S. An FCC revisit of its orbital debris rules could happen once the commission gets a Democratic majority (see 2105070004).