U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy

On April 25, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy (CRSSP). The policy remains in effect today.

View the policy (PDF)

The policy directs the U.S. government to rely on commercial remote sensing space capabilities to the maximum practical extent, and to develop a long-term, sustainable relationship with the U.S. commercial remote sensing space industry.

The policy also directs the government to enable U.S. industry to compete successfully as a provider of remote sensing space capabilities for foreign governments and foreign commercial users, while ensuring appropriate measures are implemented to protect national security and foreign policy.

The policy directs the government to provide a timely and responsive regulatory environment for licensing the operations and exports of commercial remote sensing space systems. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized by statute to license commercial remote sensing satellite operations, and this authority has been delegated to NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) Office.