Sec. 109. ORBITAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

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## SEC. 109 ORBITAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ###

(a)Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that an improved framework may be necessary for space traffic management of United States Government assets and United States private sector assets in outer space and orbital debris mitigation. ###

(b)Study Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense, shall enter into an arrangement with an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study alternate frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities. ###

(c)Contents The study shall include the following: ####

(1)An assessment of current regulations, best practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation. ####

(2)An assessment of current statutory authorities granted to the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation and how those agencies utilize and coordinate those authorities. ####

(3)A review of all space traffic management and orbital debris requirements under treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory, and other nonbinding international arrangements in which the United States participates, and the manner and extent to which the Federal Government complies with those requirements and arrangements. ####

(4)An assessment of existing Federal Government assets used to conduct space traffic management and space situational awareness. ####

(5)An assessment of the risk to space traffic management associated with smallsats and any necessary Government coordination for their launch and utilization to avoid congestion of the orbital environment and improve space situational awareness. ####

(6)An assessment of existing private sector information sharing activities associated with space situational awareness and space traffic management. ####

(7)Recommendations related to the appropriate framework for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and economic vitality of the space industry. ###

(d)Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives the study required in subsection (b). ###

(e)Department of Defense Authorities ####

(1)Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense plays a vital and unique role in protecting national security assets in space. ####

(2)Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary of Defense as it relates to safeguarding the national security.