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119-s-428119th Congress

SAFE Orbit Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]

In Committee

Summary

Public, unclassified space‑object database and stronger civil space situational awareness.

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This bill would direct the Office of Space Commerce to gather and share unclassified space situational awareness data, require a free, fully updated public database of space objects, provide basic SSA and space traffic coordination services to satellite operators at no charge, and create limited legal immunity for provision or receipt of those services.

  • Satellite operators and commercial space companies would get free basic SSA services and open access to a public database, while their trade secrets and classified details can be withheld.
  • The Office of Space Commerce would be authorized to acquire location and orbit data, use commercial U.S. industry data to supplement Defense and NASA sources, enter contracts and transactions, and must protect systems using recognized cybersecurity standards such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
  • The bill would push the government to favor leveraging commercial capabilities, avoid competing with private SSA products to the maximum extent practicable with reviews every three years, and encourage foreign governments to join unclassified data‑sharing arrangements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Free public satellite safety data

If enacted, the bill would direct Commerce to build a free, public database of unclassified space-object information and provide basic collision-avoidance services to satellite operators at no charge. The Assistant Secretary for Space Commerce could buy location, orbit, and conjunction data and other services, and make them public unless the data are classified or a trade secret. The bill would push the agency to use U.S. commercial data where practical, protect private data with current NIST cybersecurity standards, and try not to compete with private SSA products; the agency must review competition with industry at least every three years. The bill would also give the U.S. government and people acting for it legal immunity from suits tied to providing or getting these SSA services or information.

Commerce space office becomes bureau

If enacted, the bill would move the Office of Space Commerce into a new Bureau that reports to the Commerce Secretary within five years. The Bureau would be led by a Presidentially appointed, Senate‑confirmed Assistant Secretary paid at Executive Schedule Level IV. The Secretary must finish a staffing plan within 30 days and file it yearly until one year after transition. Subject to available appropriations, the agency generally could not cut full-time jobs for this office without notice to Congress. The Secretary must also send a transition and continuity report to specified congressional committees within one year.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cornyn, John [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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