2008 News Items
Commercial ISS Resupply Contracts Awarded
Posted 12/23/2008
Today, NASA announced contract awards to Space Exploration Technologies and Orbital Sciences Corporation for International Space Station (ISS) Cargo Resupply Services (CRS), establishing the two companies as commercial cargo haulers to the ISS.
Under the CRS contracts, the companies will deliver pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the ISS, and return cargo back to Earth.
Read more about NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program...
Introductory Handbook on Space Export Controls
Posted 10/30/2008
The Office of Space Commercialization and the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation have jointly published a new handbook titled, Introduction to Space Export Controls for the Commercial Space Industry.
This short guide provides an overview of the U.S. export control process as it applies to the commercial space industry.
Office of Space Commerce Legislation Introduced in House and Senate
Posted 9/19/2008
On September 17, 2008, Rep. Mark Udall, chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 6935, the Space Commerce Act of 2008.
On September 19, 2008, Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado introduced the Senate version as S. 3504.
The Office of Space Commercialization is thankful to these Members of Congress for taking these initial steps towards the consideration of its legislative proposal.
Commercial Satellite Data Feasibility Study Contracts Awarded
Posted 9/17/2008
NOAA has awarded eight contracts to five U.S. companies to study the feasibility of providing earth and space weather observation data to the government on a commercial basis.
The contract awards follow up on the Sources Sought Announcement and industry day that the Office of Space Commercialization and NOAA's Satellite and Information Service organized in December 2007 and January 2008.
The contracts total $200,000 in value. They went to Iridium (2 contracts, $50,000), Space Services Inc. (2 contracts, $50,000), Orbcomm (2 contracts, $50,000), Microsat Systems ($25,000), and GeoOptics ($25,000).
Read more about NOAA's interest in commercial data sources...
