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SAFE Orbit Act
10/7/2025, 6:26 PM
Summary of Bill S 428
One of the key provisions of the bill is the modification of the functions and leadership of the Office of Space Commerce. This office plays a crucial role in promoting the commercial use of outer space and ensuring the safety and sustainability of space activities. The bill seeks to strengthen the office's capabilities in monitoring and coordinating space traffic, as well as enhancing its leadership structure to better address the evolving challenges in space.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to promote international cooperation in space situational awareness and traffic coordination. By working with other countries and organizations, the United States can improve its ability to track and manage space activities on a global scale. Overall, Bill 119 s 428 aims to enhance the United States' capabilities in space situational awareness and traffic coordination, while also promoting international cooperation in outer space activities. By improving our ability to monitor and coordinate activities in space, the bill seeks to ensure the safety and sustainability of space operations for years to come.
Congressional Summary of S 428
Situational Awareness of Flying Elements in Orbit Act or the SAFE Orbit Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Traffic Coordination System for Space, which is being developed by the Office of Space Commerce to provide space situational awareness data and services to space operators. (Space situational awareness means an understanding of the space operational environment and the identification, tracking, and prediction of the behavior of space objects and debris.)
As an initial matter, the bill provides for the elevation of the Office of Space Commerce to a standalone bureau within the Department of Commerce. (The office currently sits within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.)
The bill authorizes the bureau to acquire location tracking data, positional and orbit determination information, conjunction data messages, and other data, analytics, information, and services deemed necessary to avoid collisions in space. The bureau must disseminate this information at no charge (1) through a public database of space situational awareness information and services, including space traffic coordination; and (2) through the provision of basic situational awareness services to satellite operators. The bill also sets forth certain requirements for the collection and dissemination of such information, including that, to the extent practicable, the provision of service to satellite operators may not compete with private situational awareness products.
Finally, the bill provides immunity for the United States government from any suit for a cause of action arising from the provision or receipt of space situational awareness services or information.
