Sec. 304. Space traffic management
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Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is further amended— in section 50902, by adding at the end the following new paragraph: space traffic management means a set of technical and regulatory provisions and processes used to oversee, coordinate, regulate, and promote safe and responsible space activities. ; and by adding at the end the following new section: Not later than September, 30, 2020, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of such other Government departments and agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall designate a lead Government agency for space traffic management activities and services except for activities and services related to national security assets.
In carrying out space traffic management activities and services, the lead agency designated under subsection (a)— shall use the information and services for situational awareness of objects in Earth orbit collected under section 50925; and may take such actions as are necessary to minimize the collision of objects in Earth orbit that could jeopardize the safety of individuals in space, degrade or destroy functional satellites, or lead to the creation of significant amounts of orbital debris.
Not later than September 30, 2020, the lead agency designated under subsection
(a)shall, by performance-based regulation, establish procedures to prevent the collision of objects on orbit. Such procedures shall clearly define the rationales for actions taken by the lead agency under subsection
(b)and the specific steps the lead agency will follow to reach any decisions. Such rationales and steps shall be clearly communicated to all affected actors. In developing such procedures, the head of the lead agency shall consider: Compelling the movement of space objects. Commenting on orbital regimes for non-governmental space objects during the launch or mission licensing process. Requiring the placement of tracking devices on all objects launched into space. Restricting unmaneuverable satellites from specific, highly congested orbital regions. . The analysis for chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 50926. Space traffic management. . Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, shall submit to Congress a report on adjudication processes for actors affected by section 50926 of title 51, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)). Such report shall contain statutory and regulatory recommendations. No space traffic management activities described under section 50926 of title 51, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), may be performed by the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Air Traffic Organization nor by any other entity with responsibility for air traffic control. Upon the issuance of the regulations containing the procedures required under section 50925(c) of title 51, United States Code, the Secretary of State shall seek to enter into bi- and multi-lateral agreements with other spacefaring nations based upon such regulations in order to normalize standards and authorities amongst spacefaring nations. The Secretary of State shall seek to convene a meeting of nations to develop a unified international space traffic management regime based on the norms of behavior set by Federal law, regulation, and any bi- or multi-lateral agreement in place. In developing the regime under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall— work in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of such other Government departments and agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate; and when practicable, use existing multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.