Space Regulatory Glossary Agencies

Department of Commerce

noun

1. The U.S. federal executive department responsible for promoting economic growth, trade, and technological innovation. In the space sector, the Department of Commerce houses both NOAA (which licenses commercial remote sensing systems) and the Office of Space Commerce (which is developing civil space traffic management capabilities).
2. The Department of Commerce's expanding role in space regulation (through remote sensing licensing, space situational awareness, and export controls under the EAR) positions it alongside the FCC and FAA as a primary federal authority affecting commercial space operations.

Read: U.S. Space Regulatory Compliance

Related terms

NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A U.S. federal agency within the Department of Commerce that… Office of Space Commerce A bureau within NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for promoting the growth of the commercial space… EAR Export Administration Regulations. The U.S. export control framework administered by the Bureau of Industry and… remote sensing license A license issued by NOAA authorizing a private entity to operate a system that collects data about Earth from space.

Mentioned in The Downlink

• ITAR and Export Controls for Satellite Programs

  How U.S. export controls apply to commercial satellites. ITAR vs EAR jurisdiction, deemed exports, the 2024 reform proposal, and compliance strategies.

• NOAA Remote Sensing License & Part 960 Explained

  Part 960 governs every U.S. commercial Earth observation satellite. Here's how the tier system works and why CRSRA's capacity is now uncertain.

• U.S. Space Regulatory Compliance: A Complete Guide

  Navigate FCC, FAA, NOAA, and ITU requirements for commercial space missions. Four agencies, timelines, costs, and compliance steps.

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