2009 News Items
Lunar Lander Challenge Awards
Posted 11/6/2009At an awards ceremony on November 5, 2009, the X Prize Foundation and NASA culminated the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X Prize Challenge by presenting the Level 2 awards to Masten Space Systems ($1 million for first place) and Armadillo Aerospace ($500,000 for second place). Masten Space Systems also received $150,000 for being the second team to complete the Level 1 challenge.
Kim Presentation from Navigation Conference
Posted 10/28/2009On October 28, Jason Kim from the Office of Space Commercialization presented a GPS status update at the 13th World Congress of the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN 2009) in Stockholm, Sweden. He spoke on behalf of the National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT, of which he is a member. The presentation is available online at PNT.gov. Kim also participated in a policy discussion panel on developing and future applications of satellite navigation technology.
Final Report of Augustine Committee
Posted 10/22/2009The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee released its final, full-length report on October 22.
U.S. Approval for 1-Meter Commercial Radar Satellite
Posted 10/16/2009NOAA recently disclosed that it granted a license to Northrop Grumman to operate a commercial remote sensing satellite with one-meter synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability. It is the first U.S. license approved for a commercial radar imaging satellite at that resolution level.
Online Registration for Remote Sensing Symposium
Posted 10/8/2009
Registration is now open for the 2010 International Commercial
Remote Sensing Symposium, organized by the Office of Space Commercialization and the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).
Beavin to Speak at AIAA Space 2009
Posted 9/10/2009Michael Beavin from the Office of Space Commercialization will moderate two panels at next week's Space 2009 conference in Pasadena, CA, organized by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The panels will focus on commercial satellite communications and commercial remote sensing.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dennis Hightower will also speak at the conference, as will Abby Harper, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Systems, NOAA Satellite and Information Service. Harper will discuss the use of commercial space systems to meet NOAA mission requirements.
Summary Report of Augustine Committee
Posted 9/8/2009The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, also known as the Augustine Committee, submitted its summary report to the White House and NASA on September 8, 2009. The report recognizes the value that the commercial space industry has to offer to the government and recommends that NASA encourage and use more commercial space services to support future human space missions.
QZSS Ground Station Established at NOAA Site in Guam
Posted 8/27/2009On August 25, NOAA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) cut the ribbon on a new ground station in Guam that will monitor JAXA's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The Office of Space Commercialization played a central role in enabling JAXA to install the monitoring station at NOAA's Weather Forecast Office in Guam. NOAA, Commerce, and the U.S. government strongly support QZSS because it is designed to be fully interoperable with GPS.
Job Announcement for PNT Office Director
Posted 8/21/2009
The government is currently seeking candidates to serve as Director of the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). The position, sponsored by the Department of Transportation, is at the Senior Executive Service (SES) level and was held by Michael Shaw from November 2005 to June 2009. Applications are due September 21, 2009.
The Commerce Department hosts the National Coordination Office within the Office of Space Commercialization.
White House Review of U.S. Export Control System
Posted 8/17/2009On August 13, the President directed the National Economic Council and National Security Council to initiate an interagency review of the U.S. export control system, including both the dual-use and defense trade processes.
Third NOAA Solicitation on Commercial Data Feasibility
Posted 8/17/2009
On August 6, NOAA issued a public solicitation for feasibility studies related to three space-based observation requirements. This is the third round of studies that NOAA is conducting on the potential use of commercial sources for earth observations and space weather data. The deadline for proposals is August 21, 2009.
Consolidated Commercial Satcom Contracting
Posted 8/10/2009On August 6, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) announced their partnership on Future Commercial Satellite Communications (COMSATCOM) Services Acquisitions (FCSA). The two agencies have agreed to combine their acquisition efforts in this area upon the expiration of the current DISA and GSA COMSATCOM contracts, starting in 2011. This should eliminate duplication of effort and produce cost savings for U.S. government agencies, as well as state, local and tribal governments.
Announcement of 2010 Remote Sensing Symposium
Posted 8/5/2009
The Office of Space Commercialization has partnered with the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) to organize the 2010 International Commercial Remote Sensing Symposium, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on March 3-5, 2010.
Report on Galileo Market Access
Posted 7/16/2009
On July 15, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) submitted a report to Congress on U.S. equipment industry access to Galileo markets and Europe's compliance with the trade provisions in the GPS-Galileo Agreement of 2004. The Office of Space Commercialization assisted USTR in preparing the report.
National Academies Report on U.S. Space Priorities
Posted 7/8/2009On July 7, the National Research Council released a report on America's Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs. It calls for a closer connection between U.S. space activity and broader national imperatives such as clean energy, environmental protection, and foreign diplomacy. It also recommends "rationalizing" satellite export controls.
The report comes just as the new Administration is reviewing aspects of national space policy.
Video of Commercial Crew & Cargo Transport Event
Posted 7/6/2009
On June 18, Michael Beavin moderated a panel at AIAA's event on Innovations in Orbit: An Exploration of Commercial Crew and Cargo Transportation. The event featured key leaders from government and industry in this emerging space market. AIAA has posted a YouTube video of the panel for those who could not attend in person.
Satellite Export Control Legislation
Posted 6/29/2009On June 10, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for FY 2010-2011. Section 826 of the bill would authorize the President to remove satellites and related components from the U.S. Munitions List, except with respect to exports to China.
The Administration supports H.R. 2410, including the Presidential authority to transfer licensing jurisdiction for commercial communications satellites from the Department of State to the Department of Commerce. The bill is now under consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Info Sought on Commercial Remote Sensing Satellites
Posted 6/17/2009On June 15, NOAA issued a Request for Information (RFI) on U.S. commercial remote sensing capabilities and business models. The industry inputs will inform government decision makers deliberating future NOAA licensing actions. Inputs are due August 14, 2009.
Second Round of Commercial Feasibility Studies Awarded
Posted 6/8/2009
On June 8, NOAA announced the award of ten contracts to study the feasibility of meeting NOAA observation requirements using commercially available space assets. The study contracts cover environmental data requirements related to sea surface topography, geostationary atmospheric soundings, earth radiation budget measurements, and ocean color.
Presentation on U.S. Space Export Controls
Posted 4/30/2009Here is the presentation that Michael Beavin gave at yesterday's forum on Entrepreneurial Space and Export Control.
Beavin to Speak at Space Export Control Event
Posted 4/21/2009Michael Beavin from the Office of Space Commercialization will participate in a panel discussion during the AIAA forum on Entrepreneurial Space and Export Control: Red Tape in the Final Frontier, April 29 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
Microgravity Research Competition Prize Awarded
Posted 4/20/2009On April 18, the Heinlein Prize Trust announced the winner of its Microgravity Research Competition. The prize went to a team from the University of Texas for nanotechnology research that may be applicable to drug delivery and other commercial applications.
Comments Sought on Galileo Equipment Market Access
Posted 4/15/2009
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is collecting public comments on U.S. industry access to Galileo markets, to assess compliance with the GPS-Galileo Agreement of 2004. The comments will help USTR prepare a report on the subject, as directed by congressional language.
Comments are due May 13, 2009.
Info Sought on Commercial Space Weather Data Sources
Posted 4/13/2009On April 8, the U.S. Air Force issued a Request for Information (RFI) on cost-effective ways to fulfill its requirements for space environmental data. According to the RFI, "The Air Force is evaluating all possible solutions sets, including the employment of commercial systems as a data provider with sensors already on-orbit or hosting sensors on future platforms." Due date for response is May 7, 2009.
The Air Force RFI is similar to the RFQ issued by NOAA on March 23.
Third Civil GPS Signal Activated
Posted 4/10/2009
The Air Force has successfully activated the experimental L5 transmitter on the newest GPS satellite. Here is the official media release.
L5 is the third civilian GPS signal, broadcast in a radio band reserved exclusively for aviation safety services. The Commerce Department was one of the earliest proponents of a third civil GPS frequency.
Read more about the Department's role in GPS modernization...
Small Payload Rideshare Workshop
Posted 4/7/2009The National Reconnaissance Office and NASA have announced their annual Small Payload Rideshare Workshop, to be held May 19-20, 2009, at the NASA Ames Research Center. The workshop agenda focuses on investigating concepts and technologies that will enable the small payload community to meet future launch needs and provide the best possible launch capabilities in a cost-effective manner. Options to be explored include co-manifested, secondary, and hosted payloads.
Solicitation Revised from RFP to RFQ
Posted 3/25/2009NOAA has reposted its solicitation with some technical corrections. The solicitation is now called a Request for Quote (RFQ) instead of a Request for Proposals (RFP). The deadline has also shifted from April 10 to April 14. Here is a link to the revised RFQ.
Read more about NOAA's interest in commercial data sources...
RFP Issued to Study Commercial Sources of NOAA Observations
Posted 3/23/2009
NOAA has posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for additional feasibility studies concerning its potential use of commercially available space-based and space weather observations. The technical and cost studies cover the following observation requirements: Total and Clear Sky Radiative Flux; Sea Surface Height/Topography; Geostationary High Spectral Atmospheric Profiles; and Ocean Color.
The proposal deadline is April 10, 2009. The RFP is the second in a three-part series of solicitations on this topic.
Read more about NOAA's interest in commercial data sources...
Space Commerce Website Redesigned
Posted 3/13/2009The Office of Space Commercialization has redesigned its website to include an RSS feed of latest news and a new, pop-up navigation tool based on popular keywords. Feedback is welcome on the new interface.
Spring and Summer Internship Opportunities
Posted 2/19/2009The Office of Space Commercialization is currently seeking applicants for a spring or summer internship. The application deadline is March 20, 2009.
National Academies Report on Economic Impacts of Space Weather
Posted 1/16/2009
The Space Studies Board, part of the National Research Council of the National Academies, has published a report titled, Severe Space Weather Events -- Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts.
The report summarizes findings from a workshop on the societal and economic impacts of severe space weather events.
