Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Orbital Sustainability Act of 2023

or the

ORBITS Act of 2023

Findings; sense of Congress

(a)

Findings

Congress makes the following findings:(1)The safety and sustainability of operations in low-Earth orbit and nearby orbits in outer space have become increasingly endangered by a growing amount of orbital debris.(2)Exploration and scientific research missions and commercial space services of critical importance to the United States rely on continued and secure access to outer space.(3)Efforts by nongovernmental space entities to apply lessons learned through standards and best practices will benefit from government support for implementation both domestically and internationally.(b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that to preserve the sustainability of operations in space, the United States Government should—(1)to the extent practicable, develop and carry out programs, establish or update regulations, and commence initiatives to minimize orbital debris, including initiatives to demonstrate active debris remediation of orbital debris generated by the United States Government;(2)lead international efforts to encourage other spacefaring countries to mitigate and remediate orbital debris under their jurisdiction and control; and(3)encourage space system operators to continue implementing best practices for space safety when deploying satellites and constellations of satellites, such as transparent data sharing and designing for system reliability, so as to limit the generation of future orbital debris.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Active debris remediation

The term active debris remediation—(A)means the deliberate process of facilitating the de-orbit, repurposing, or other disposal of orbital debris, which may include moving orbital debris to a safe position, using an object or technique that is external or internal to the orbital debris; and(B)does not include de-orbit, repurposing, or other disposal of orbital debris by passive means.(2)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.(3)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—(A)the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and(B)the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.(4)

Demonstration program

The term demonstration program means the active orbital debris remediation demonstration program carried out under section 4(b).(5)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—(A)a United States-based—(i)non-Federal, commercial entity;(ii)institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))); or(iii)nonprofit organization;(B)any other United States-based entity the Administrator considers appropriate; and(C)a partnership of entities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).(6)

Orbital debris

The term orbital debris means any human-made space object orbiting Earth that—(A)no longer serves an intended purpose; and(B)(i)has reached the end of its mission; or(ii)is incapable of safe maneuver or operation.(7)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.(8)

Space traffic coordination

The term space traffic coordination means the planning, coordination, and on-orbit synchronization of activities to enhance the safety and sustainability of operations in the space environment.

Active debris remediation

(a)

Prioritization of orbital debris

(1)

List

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, the National Space Council, and representatives of the commercial space industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations, shall publish a list of identified orbital debris that pose the greatest immediate risk to the safety and sustainability of orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities.(2)

Contents

The list required under paragraph (1)—(A)shall be developed using appropriate sources of data and information derived from governmental and nongovernmental sources, including space situational awareness data obtained by the Office of Space Commerce, to the extent practicable;(B)shall include, to the extent practicable—(i)a description of the approximate age, location in orbit, size, tumbling state, post-mission passivation actions taken, and national jurisdiction of each orbital debris identified; and(ii)data required to inform decisions regarding potential risk and feasibility of safe remediation; and(C)may include orbital debris that poses a significant risk to terrestrial people and assets, including risk resulting from potential environmental impacts from the uncontrolled reentry of the orbital debris identified. (3)

Public availability; periodic updates

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the list required under paragraph (1) shall be published in unclassified form on a publicly accessible internet website of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.(B)

Exclusion

The Administration may not include on the list published under subparagraph (A) data acquired from nonpublic sources.(C)

Periodic updates

Such list shall be updated periodically.(4)

Research and development

With respect to orbital debris identified under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, to the extent practicable and subject to the availability of appropriations, carry out the additional research and development activities necessary, in consultation with the commercial space industry, to mature technologies that close commercial capability gaps and enable potential future remediation missions for such orbital debris.(5)

Acquisition, access, use, and handling of data or information

In carrying out the activities under this subsection, the Administrator—(A)shall acquire, access, use, and handle data or information in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of law and policy, including laws and policies providing for the protection of privacy and civil liberties, and subject to any restrictions required by the source of the information;(B)shall have access, upon written request, to all information, data, or reports of any executive agency that the Administrator determines necessary to carry out the activities under this subsection, provided that such access is—(i)conducted in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of law and policy of the originating agency, including laws and policies providing for the protection of privacy and civil liberties; and(ii)consistent with due regard for the protection from unauthorized disclosure of classified information relating to sensitive intelligence sources and methods or other exceptionally sensitive matters; and(C)may obtain commercially available information that may not be publicly available. (b)

Active orbital debris remediation demonstration program

(1)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator, in consultation with the head of each relevant Federal department or agency, shall establish a demonstration program to make competitive awards for the development of technologies leading to the remediation of selected orbital debris identified under subsection (a)(1).(2)

Purpose

The purpose of the demonstration program shall be to enable eligible entities to pursue the phased development and demonstration of technologies and processes required for active debris remediation.(3)

Procedures and criteria

In establishing the demonstration program, the Administrator shall—(A)establish—(i)eligibility criteria for participation;(ii)a process for soliciting proposals from eligible entities;(iii)criteria for the contents of such proposals;(iv)program compliance and evaluation metrics; and(v)program phases and milestones;(B)identify government-furnished data or equipment; and(C)develop a plan for National Aeronautics and Space Administration participation in technology development, as appropriate, and intellectual property rights. (4)

Proposal evaluation

In evaluating proposals for the demonstration program, the Administrator shall—(A)consider the safety, feasibility, cost, benefit, and maturity of the proposed technology;(B)consider the potential for the proposed demonstration to successfully remediate orbital debris and to advance the commercial state of the art with respect to active debris remediation;(C)carry out a risk analysis of the proposed technology that takes into consideration the potential casualty risk to humans in space or on the Earth’s surface;(D)in an appropriate setting, conduct thorough testing and evaluation of the proposed technology and each component of such technology or system of technologies; and(E)consider the technical and financial feasibility of using the proposed technology to conduct multiple remediation missions. (5)

Demonstration mission

(A)

In general

The Administrator shall consult with the head of each relevant Federal department or agency in advance of each demonstration mission.(B)

Active debris remediation demonstration mission

It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should consider maximizing competition for, and use best practices to engage commercial entities in, an active debris remediation demonstration mission.(C)

Spectrum considerations

The Administrator shall convey any potential spectrum allocations and licensing needs for active debris remediation demonstration missions to the Federal Communications Commission through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as soon as practicable after any such spectrum allocation or licensing need has been identified.(6)

Reports

(A)

Recommendations

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the first demonstration mission is carried out under this subsection, the Administrator, in consultation with the head of each relevant Federal department or agency, shall submit to Congress a report that provides legislative, regulatory, and policy recommendations to improve active debris remediation missions, as applicable.(B)

Technical analysis

(i)

In general

To inform decisions regarding the acquisition of active debris remediation services by the Federal Government, not later than 180 days after the completion of the demonstration program, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that—(I)summarizes a technical analysis of technologies developed under the demonstration program;(II)identifies any technology gaps addressed by the demonstration program and any remaining technology gaps; and(III)provides, as applicable, any further legislative, regulatory, and policy recommendations to enable active debris remediation missions. (ii)

Availability

The Administration shall make the report submitted under clause (i) available to the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as determined by the Administrator.(7)

International cooperation

(A)

In general

In carrying out the demonstration program, the Administrator, in consultation with the National Space Council and in collaboration with the Secretary of State, may pursue a cooperative relationship with one or more partner countries to enable the remediation of orbital debris that is under the jurisdiction of such partner countries.(B)

Arrangement or agreement with partner country

Any arrangement or agreement entered into with a partner country under subparagraph (A) shall be—(i)concluded—(I)in the interests of the United States Government; and(II)without prejudice to any contractual arrangement among commercial parties that may be required to complete the active debris remediation mission concerned; and(ii)consistent with the international obligations of the United States under the international legal framework governing outer space activities.(c)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Active debris remediation services

(a)

In general

To foster the competitive development, operation, improvement, and commercial availability of active debris remediation services, and in consideration of the economic analysis required by subsection (b) and the reports under section 4(b)(6), the Administrator and the head of each relevant Federal department or agency may acquire services for the remediation of orbital debris, whenever practicable, through fair and open competition for contracts that are well-defined, milestone-based, and in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.(b)

Economic analysis

Based on the results of the demonstration program, the Secretary, acting through the Office of Space Commerce, shall publish an assessment of the estimated Federal Government and private sector demand for orbital debris remediation services for the 10-year period beginning in 2025.

Uniform orbital debris standard practices for United States space activities

(a)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the National Space Council, in coordination with the Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Secretary of Defense, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Administrator, shall initiate an update to the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices that—(1)considers planned space systems, including satellite constellations; and(2)addresses— (A)collision risk;(B)casualty probability;(C)post-mission disposal of space systems;(D)time to disposal or de-orbit;(E)spacecraft collision avoidance and automated identification capability; and(F)the ability to track orbital debris of decreasing size.(b)

Consultation

In developing the update under subsection (a), the National Space Council, or a designee of the National Space Council, shall seek advice and input on commercial standards and best practices from representatives of the commercial space industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations, including through workshops and, as appropriate, advance public notice and comment processes under chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code.(c)

Publication

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, such update shall be published in the Federal Register and posted to the relevant Federal Government websites.(d)

Regulations

To promote uniformity and avoid duplication in the regulation of space activity, including licensing by the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission, such update, after publication, shall be used to inform the further development and promulgation of Federal regulations relating to orbital debris.(e)

International promotion

To encourage effective and nondiscriminatory standards, best practices, rules, and regulations implemented by other countries, such update shall inform bilateral and multilateral discussions focused on the authorization and continuing supervision of nongovernmental space activities.

Standard practices for space traffic coordination

(a)

In general

The Secretary, in coordination with members of the National Space Council and the Federal Communications Commission, shall facilitate the development of standard practices for on-orbit space traffic coordination based on existing guidelines and best practices used by Government and commercial space industry operators.(b)

Consultation

In facilitating the development of standard practices under subsection (a), the Secretary, through the Office of Space Commerce, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall engage in frequent and routine consultation with representatives of the commercial space industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations.(c)

Promotion of standard practices

On completion of such standard practices, the Secretary, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator, and the Secretary of Defense shall promote the adoption and use of the standard practices for domestic and international space missions.