§3239 Requirement to Buy Certain Satellite Component From American Sources

Summary

Starting January 1, 2021, intelligence units that are not part of the Department of Defense must not buy or contract for a national security satellite that uses a star tracker unless the star tracker’s hardware and software were made in the United States. Covered element of the intelligence community: an intelligence unit not in the Department of Defense. National security satellite: a satellite over 400 pounds mainly used for U.S. national security or intelligence. United States: the States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and possessions. The head of such an intelligence unit may waive this rule if they send a written certification to the congressional intelligence committees showing that either no U.S. star tracker meets the mission needs, U.S. options are unreasonably costly based on a market survey, or an urgent national security need requires it.