Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs
Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) is a division of NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce. CRSRA licenses private operators of remote sensing space systems and monitors compliance with the law, regulations, and license terms.
NOTE: CRSRA’s web pages are currently transitioning from NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) to the Office of Space Commerce. Some links below will still take viewers to the NESDIS site. Thank you for your patience during this period of change.
Licensing
Pursuant to the National and Commercial Space Programs Act (NCSPA or “the Act”), 51 U.S.C.§ 60101, et seq., the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to license private sector parties to operate private remote sensing space systems. In accordance with the Act, private remote sensing space system licenses are issued by CRSRA pursuant to 15 C.F.R. Part 960.
CRSRA encourages consultation meetings with potential applicants before a license application is submitted.
Compliance and Monitoring
CRSRA works with other United States Government agencies to preserve essential U.S. national security interests and international obligations by assuring licensee compliance with the law, regulations, and license terms. CRSRA’s compliance and monitoring activities preserve, protect, and promote the interests of the United States and the Department of Commerce in discharging its responsibilities under law and regulations.
