[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62845-62846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22413]


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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

National Space Council


Notice of In-space Authorization and Supervision Policy Listening 
Sessions; Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Space Council, Executive Office of the President 
(EOP).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On 9 September 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of 
the National Space Council, requested Council Members to provide ``a 
proposal for the authorization and supervision of commercial novel 
space activities within 180 days[.]'' The White House National Space 
Council in the Executive Office of the President is organizing a series 
of virtual 2 hour listening sessions to engage with members of the 
public and learn about novel space capabilities and innovative 
missions, experiences with United States regulatory bodies, and 
approaches to mission authorization and supervision that can evolve 
over time.

DATES: 
    1. Novel Space Capabilities:
Monday, 14 November 2022 1 to 3 p.m. ET
2. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision:
    Monday, 21 November 2022 1 to 3 p.m. ET

    Registration deadlines:

1. Novel Space Capabilities:
    Sunday, 13 November 2022 11:59 a.m. ET
2. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision:
    Sunday, 20 November 2022 11:59 a.m. ET

    Written comments regarding these topics are not necessary but 
invited and must be received within 45 days of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Register for a virtual listening session using the session-
specific links below:

Novel Space Capabilities: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsd-Gurj4tGy6OkzdSEGbJGjshsVTsoqI
Approaches to Authorization & Supervision: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsf-CtrjooEzU71B_fF2SeAksTFKshLyY

    Please send written comments to Diane Howard at 
[email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Howard at 
[email protected] or by calling 202.456.7831.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Perspectives gathered during the virtual 
listening sessions will inform the National Space Council as it 
develops a whole-of-government framework that provides a clear, 
predictable, and flexible process in furtherance of the United States 
Space Priorities Framework (December 2021) which states that ``U.S 
regulations must provide clarity and certainty for the authorization 
and supervision of non-governmental space activities, including for 
novel activities such as on-orbit services, orbital debris removal, 
space-based manufacturing, commercial human spaceflight, and recovery 
and use of space resources.''
    Novel activities relate to those missions/activities that are not 
directly reviewed under existing regulatory regimes, including assembly 
and manufacturing, mining, and fueling stations. Participants are 
invited to share information about their missions--the different phases 
from cradle to grave as well the multiple aspects of these phases. i.e. 
the communications aspect, role of imagery in operations, in-space 
safety protocols such as conjunction assessment and collision 
avoidance, and any others participants believe are appropriate to be 
considered.

[[Page 62846]]

    Pursuant to Executive Order 14056 and Title V of Public Law 100-
685, National Space Council is soliciting public input through these 
virtual listening sessions to obtain information and recommendations 
from a wide array of stakeholders, including representatives from 
diverse industries, academia, other relevant organizations and 
institutions, and the general public. Virtual listening sessions will 
inform National Space Council Members as they develop applicable 
national space policy as described herein.
    The virtual listening sessions will each focus on a specific theme, 
as described below:

1. Session on Novel Space Capabilities: 14 November 2022, 1 to 3 p.m. 
ET

    Commercial spaceflight technologies in the United States have 
matured significantly over the last decade. As a direct result, the 
Unites States commercial space sector has begun to engage in a range of 
new activities in outer space and is planning for many more. Some of 
these activities are novel in and of themselves, others are novel 
because of who performs them or where, while still others are novel 
combinations of more established activities.
    In the United States Space Priorities Framework (SPF), the Biden-
Harris Administration highlighted the importance of an enabling policy 
and regulatory environment to the nation's innovation ecosystem and its 
thriving economic development.
    U.S. regulations must provide clarity and certainty for the 
authorization and continuing supervision of non-governmental space 
activities, including for novel activities such as on-orbit servicing, 
orbital debris removal, space-based manufacturing, commercial human 
spaceflight, and recovery and use of space resources.

2. Session on Approaches for Authorization & Supervision: 21 November 
2022, 1 to 3 p.m. ET

    Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty obligates the United States to 
authorize and provide continuous supervision for the space activities 
of its non-governmental entities. Authorization refers to governmental 
permission to perform a mission or activity and supervision means 
ongoing governmental oversight of some sort or degree sufficient to 
ensure consistency with the Outer Space Treaty. The goal is a clear, 
predictable, and flexible regulatory and policy environment for private 
sector space activities that will grow and evolve in response to 
technological advancement and enable continued sustainability of the 
space environment. This requires understanding of the operational phase 
of these missions.
    Participants are invited to share information about their 
experiences and opinions about obtaining authorization to perform their 
current and planned activities and if/how these activities are being 
supervised, if current, and ideas for supervision of planned missions, 
to include incentives, monitoring, reporting, and others.
    Speakers will have 3 minutes each to present comments and 
participants will be allowed to provide further details and 
perspectives in written format within 45 days of this publication.

Diane Howard,
Director of Commercial Space Policy, National Space Council.
[FR Doc. 2022-22413 Filed 10-13-22; 11:15 am]
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