S.Amdt. 6678

The Orbital Sustainability Act of 2026 (also known as the ORBITS Act of 2026) is an amendment to bill S. 4784. Its purpose is to address the growing amount of orbital debris that endangers the safety and sustainability of operations in low-Earth orbit and nearby orbits.

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• Active Debris Remediation: It requires the Secretary of Commerce to publish a list of orbital debris that can be remediated. It also establishes a demonstration project led by the NASA Administrator to award competitive grants to eligible entities (such as commercial entities, nonprofits, and higher education institutions) to develop and demonstrate technologies for removing debris.

• Funding and Services: It authorizes $150,000,000 for the Administrator from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. It also allows Federal agencies to acquire active debris remediation services through open competition.

• Standard Practices: The act directs the National Space Council and other agencies to update the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, covering risks like collisions, explosions, and post-mission disposal. Additionally, the Secretary of Commerce will facilitate the development of standard practices for space traffic coordination.

• International and Domestic Cooperation: The amendment emphasizes leading international efforts to encourage other spacefaring countries to mitigate debris and promoting the adoption of safety best practices among space system operators.