THE ASCEND ACT�ADVANCING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT VIA COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS��PROPOSAL FOR THE OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT (OCHS)
LINDSAY LEVINE
ASTE 527 SPACE STUDIO
DECEMBER 13, 2022
COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT ON THE RISE
Dennis Tito, first space tourist on his flight to ISS in 20012
Rendering of stratospheric platform ”Space Perspective”3
Overview Effect1
WHO, OR WHAT, SHOULD BE REGULATING THESE ACTIVATES
As the industry continues to progress, there has been debate over whether the US meets the intent of the Outer Space Treaty Article IV through the minimal oversight in place now7
However, Outer Space Treaty Article IV states “The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty6”
There is currently a “learning period” in place since 2004 and is set to expire Oct 2023 to allow rapid innovation and expansion of the industry with minimal federal oversight5
For commercial space activities outside NASA, it is not required to follow the NASA guidelines for vehicle certification or Astronaut training4
CURRENT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT ON COMMERCIAL SPACE8
CURRENT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT ON COMMERCIAL SPACE8
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses commercial satellite communications
CURRENT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT ON COMMERCIAL SPACE8
NASA &
Dept. of Defense Space Force
Govt spaceflight operations, partner with commercial industry
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses commercial satellite communications
No regulatory authority over commercial activities outside govt activities
CURRENT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT ON COMMERCIAL SPACE8
NASA &
Dept. of Defense Space Force
Govt spaceflight operations, partner with commercial industry
AST licenses commercial launch and reentry vehicles, commercial space ports
AST has authority to regulate design and operation of commercial launch vehicles, however only after said design feature or operating practice have previously resulted in serious or fatal injury
Dept. of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Space Transportation (AST)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses commercial satellite communications
No regulatory authority over commercial activities outside govt activities
AST collaborates with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international coordination
For suborbital flights, only a permit, with less requirements & faster approval, rather than license is required
CURRENT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT ON COMMERCIAL SPACE8
NASA &
Dept. of Defense Space Force
Govt spaceflight operations, partner with commercial industry
AST licenses commercial launch and reentry vehicles, commercial space ports
AST has authority to regulate design and operation of commercial launch vehicles, however only after said design feature or operating practice have previously resulted in serious or fatal injury
BIS licenses exports of space technology in collaboration with Dept of State
OSC oversees space economy, GPS, international cooperation, cybersecurity, space situational awareness and space traffic management, remote sensing regulations via Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office (CRSRA)
Dept. of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Space Transportation (AST)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Dept. Of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC)
Licenses commercial satellite communications
No regulatory authority over commercial activities outside govt activities
AST collaborates with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international coordination
For suborbital flights, only a permit, with less requirements & faster approval, rather than license is required
“Principal unit for the coordination of space-related issues, programs, and initiatives9” – not regulatory, but tasked with collecting and analyzing info on space markets, conducting workshops and seminars, liaise between commercial providers and US govt, industry advocate to federal government
THE ASCEND ACT�ADVANCING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT VIA COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS��OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT (OCHS)
ASCEND ACT: OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
NASA &
Dept. of Defense Space Force
Govt spaceflight operations, partner with commercial industry
Dept. of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Space Transportation (AST)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Dept. Of Commerce
Licenses commercial satellite communications
No regulatory authority over commercial activities outside govt activities
ASCEND ACT: OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
NASA &
Dept. of Defense Space Force
Govt spaceflight operations, partner with commercial industry
AST licenses commercial launch and reentry vehicles, commercial space ports, suborbital flights
AST has authority to proactively regulate design and operation of commercial launch vehicles
Dept. of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Space Transportation (AST)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses commercial satellite communications
No regulatory authority over commercial activities outside govt activities
AST collaborates with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international coordination
Dept. Of Commerce
ASCEND ACT: OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
NASA &
Dept. of Defense Space Force
Govt spaceflight operations, partner with commercial industry
AST licenses commercial launch and reentry vehicles, commercial space ports, suborbital flights
AST has authority to proactively regulate design and operation of commercial launch vehicles
Dept. of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Space Transportation (AST)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses commercial satellite communications
No regulatory authority over commercial activities outside govt activities
AST collaborates with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international coordination
Dept. Of Commerce
ASCEND ACT: OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
BIS licenses exports of space technology in collaboration with Dept of State
Dept. Of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
ASCEND ACT: OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
BIS licenses exports of space technology in collaboration with Dept of State
Dept. Of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
OSC oversees space economy, GPS, international cooperation, cybersecurity, space situational awareness and space traffic management, remote sensing regulations via Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office (CRSRA)
Tasked with collecting and analyzing info on non-human spaceflight related space markets, conducting workshops and seminars, liaise between commercial providers and US govt, industry advocate to federal government
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC)
ASCEND ACT: OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
BIS licenses exports of space technology in collaboration with Dept of State
Dept. Of Commerce
Office of Commercial Human Spaceflight
(OCHS)
OSC oversees space economy, GPS, international cooperation, cybersecurity, space situational awareness and space traffic management, remote sensing regulations via Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office (CRSRA)
Tasked with collecting and analyzing info on non-human spaceflight related space markets, conducting workshops and seminars, liaise between commercial providers and US govt, industry advocate to federal government
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC)
Establish legislation over commercial human spaceflight activates to provide necessary regulations and controls over human safety and sustainability to ensure US remains leader in the industry with dedicated path forward to success
Tasked with collecting and analyzing info on human spaceflight related space markets, conducting workshops and seminars, liaise between commercial providers and US govt, industry advocate to federal government
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
HOW ASCEND IS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS PROPOSALS8
Independent office under the Dept of Commerce for all space related activities, including responsibilities currently distributed between FCC, FAA AST, OSC
Assign all human related activities to the OSC under NOAA in the current organizational structure
WHY OCHS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL
Separation of Commercial Human vs Non-Human space activities
Builds on already existing successful communication lines within the Dept of Commerce and between other federal organizations
Direct collaboration with industry leaders to develop useful legislation along with industry growth
OCHS FRAMEWORK
Assumptions
Merits
Challenges
3 PILLARS OF OCHS
Health & Safety
- Pull from current NASA standards to develop regulations that optimize for human safety
- Institute appropriate certifications for human rated spacecraft and trainings for spaceflight participants
- Curate database with voluntarily provided data on the effects of human spaceflight on the human body
Sustainability
- Develop reasonable guidelines for orbital and surface debris mitigation, sustainable manufacturing and infrastructure, innovative launch techniques to lower carbon emissions
- Establish long-term goals for industry to maintain sustainable growth that will allow for greater public participation in future
Innovation
- Collaborate with and encourage industry to continue to innovate new technologies and ideas for human spaceflight
- Support accessibility of spaceflight to more people through lowering costs and expanding ways to experience Overview Effect
- Inspire the next generation to engage in humanity’s return to the Moon and beyond
3 PILLARS OF OCHS
Health & Safety
- Pull from current NASA standards to develop regulations that optimize for human safety
- Institute appropriate certifications for human rated spacecraft and trainings for spaceflight participants
- Curate database with voluntarily provided data on the effects of human spaceflight on the human body
Sustainability
- Collaborate with OSC to continue to develop reasonable guidelines for orbital and surface debris mitigation, sustainable manufacturing and infrastructure, innovative launch techniques to lower carbon emissions
- Establish long-term goals for industry to maintain sustainable growth that will allow for greater public participation in future
Innovation
- Collaborate with and encourage industry to continue to innovate new technologies and ideas for human spaceflight
- Support accessibility of spaceflight to more people through lowering costs and expanding ways to experience Overview Effect
- Inspire the next generation to engage in humanity’s return to the Moon and beyond
3 PILLARS OF OCHS
Health & Safety
- Pull from current NASA standards to develop regulations that optimize for human safety
- Institute appropriate certifications for human rated spacecraft and trainings for spaceflight participants
- Curate database with voluntarily provided data on the effects of human spaceflight on the human body
Sustainability
- Collaborate with OSC to continue to develop reasonable guidelines for orbital and surface debris mitigation, sustainable manufacturing and infrastructure, innovative launch techniques to lower carbon emissions
- Establish long-term goals for industry to maintain sustainable growth that will allow for greater public participation in future
Innovation
- Collaborate with and encourage industry to continue to innovate new technologies and ideas for human spaceflight
- Support accessibility of spaceflight to more people through lowering costs and expanding ways to experience Overview Effect
- Inspire the next generation to engage in humanity’s return to the Moon and beyond
FUTURE STUDIES
- UPGRADE FAA OFFICE OF SPACE TRANSPORTATION TO EXPAND OVERSIGHT IN TRANSPORTATION JURISDICTION
- INVITE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
QUESTIONS
SOURCES