The Commerce Department's Office of Space Commerce is moving forward with Space Commerce Certification, a voluntary mission authorization system for novel space activities that fall outside the jurisdiction of existing regulators like the FAA and FCC. The July 23 announcement came after the White House approved the proposal that OSC first introduced in March. Under the system, companies submit activity proposals for interagency review with a 120-day automatic approval window if the government takes no action. The certification addresses a regulatory gap for emerging activities like satellite servicing and commercial space stations while keeping the U.S. compliant with the Outer Space Treaty requirement to authorize and supervise space activities by its nationals.
OSC plans to issue a "call for interest" in the Federal Register soon, seeking initial pilot applications from companies. Taylor Jordan, the office's director, indicated that early applicants would help refine the certification process before broader rollout. The office intends to focus first on mature technologies and missions nearing operational status, asking basic questions about international obligations, national security, and business structure before conducting interagency review.
Jordan suggested companies pursuing certification could gain relief from other licensing requirements, such as payload reviews for launch licenses or debris mitigation plans for FCC licenses. Because OSC lacks statutory authority to mandate certification, the voluntary approach relies on industry finding the streamlined process valuable enough to adopt. The office is confident companies will participate if the system delivers regulatory certainty and reduces duplicative work across agencies.
The initiative comes as regulatory boundaries between agencies face scrutiny. The House Science Committee has raised concerns about the FCC regulating space safety matters beyond its statutory mandate under the Communications Act, arguing such authority properly belongs elsewhere. Meanwhile, the FCC voted July 22 to adopt streamlined satellite licensing rules despite committee opposition on similar grounds.