S.Amdt. 3421

The SA 3421 amendment adds the Situational Awareness of Flying Elements in Orbit Act (or SAFE Orbit Act) to the bill. Its purpose is to have the Secretary of Commerce facilitate safe space operations and support commercial space capabilities by managing data on space activities.

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• Space Safety and Data: It authorizes the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce to acquire and share unclassified data, such as location tracking and orbit information, to help avoid collisions of space objects. It requires the creation of a free public database of space object behavior and provides free basic situational awareness services to satellite operators.

• Legal Protections: It grants immunity from lawsuits to the United States, its agencies, and those acting for the government regarding the provision or receipt of space situational awareness services.

• Operational Requirements: The Assistant Secretary must prioritize using commercial capabilities from the United States, protect proprietary data using cybersecurity frameworks, and work with various organizations to standardize data reporting.

• Organizational Changes: It transforms the Office of Space Commerce from an office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration into a bureau that reports directly to the Secretary of Commerce within 5 years.

• Leadership and Staffing: It establishes that the Bureau will be headed by an Assistant Secretary appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It also requires a staffing plan to be submitted to Congress and mandates notification to Congress before reducing full-time positions for reasons other than performance.