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119-s-1898119th CongressWALLET

ORBITS Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

In Committee

Summary

A federal program to find and remove dangerous orbital debris. This bill creates a NASA-led demonstration program to test active debris-removal technologies and directs government updates to uniform mitigation and space-traffic coordination practices to reduce collision risk and support commercial space activity.

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  • Commercial space companies and U.S. partners gain access to competitive awards for research, development, and demonstration missions. Eligible entities include U.S. commercial firms, universities, nonprofits, and partnerships, with a preference for technologies that address a wide range of debris.
  • NASA and researchers must manage the demonstration project, assign a project manager, leverage NASA Centers, set milestones, and provide annual reports and a post-mission analysis to inform future policy and technology gaps.
  • Federal regulators and policymakers get a prioritized public list of debris for remediation and an updated set of Uniform Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices to guide domestic regulations and international coordination, with publication timelines built into the bill.

*Authorizes $150 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the demonstration, increasing federal spending by that amount.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New debris safety rules for satellite operators

If enacted, the National Space Council would start updating orbital debris mitigation rules within 90 days. The update would be published in the Federal Register within one year. It would cover collision and explosion risk, casualty probability, post-mission disposal and time-to-deorbit, collision avoidance and automated ID, and tracking of smaller debris. Agencies would use the update to inform FAA, NOAA, and FCC licensing, and the practices must be reviewed at least every 5 years.

New on-orbit traffic coordination practices

If enacted, the Secretary of Commerce would lead development of standard on-orbit space traffic coordination practices. The Office of Space Commerce would consult with NIST and engage industry, academia, and nonprofits. Commerce would coordinate with Defense, the FCC, and other agencies. Federal agencies would promote adoption for domestic and international missions after completion.

Public prioritized orbital debris list

If enacted, the Department of Commerce would publish an unclassified prioritized list of orbital debris within 90 days. The list would be posted on Commerce's website and updated periodically. It would include, when practicable, age, orbit, size, mass, tumbling state, post-mission actions, and national jurisdiction. The Secretary could not include data acquired from nonpublic sources.

Federal buys and market study for debris removal

If enacted, NASA and other agencies would be allowed to buy active debris-removal services through fair, open competition using milestone-based contracts. The Office of Space Commerce would publish an estimate of federal and private demand for debris-removal services for the 10-year period starting in 2026. Together these steps would create contract opportunities and give companies data to plan.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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