Space Commerce in DOC’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2026
The U.S. Department of Commerce has included Space Commerce as a strategic objective in its 2022-2026 strategic plan.
According to the document, space-based assets are essential to economic growth, national security, and competitiveness. In 2019, BEA statistics show the U.S. space economy accounted for 354,000 private sector jobs, $194.6 billion of real gross output, and $120.3 billion of current-dollar GDP. The Department has the tools and expertise to ensure America’s continued leadership in space and advance commercial space activities.
To advance predictable, sound policies for commercial space innovation, the Department will advocate for the U.S. space industry in international and domestic venues. Through ITA, the Department will further its longstanding advocacy for American companies seeking international business opportunities. To improve space safety and sustainability, the Department will provide basic space situational awareness (SSA) services, contribute to relevant international standards and best practices, and promote government and industry partnerships focused on space cybersecurity. To promote commercial space innovation, the Department will invest in a portfolio of space-related R&D and provide key economic indicators about the space economy. The Department will also advance development, use, and application of space-based Earth observation capabilities that benefit all Americans.
Strategic Objective 1.7 (see page 27) cites the following five strategies:
Coordinate regulatory functions across domestic and international stakeholders to promote competitiveness, and increase legal certainty for U.S. commercial space businesses;
Grow the customer base for U.S. commercial space goods and services;
Improve space safety and sustainability;
Promote commercial space innovation;
Advance development, use, and application of space-based Earth observation capabilities to empower better decision-making by the public and private sector.
These strategies align with the U.S. Space Priorities Framework released in December 2021.
The Commerce Department’s prioritization of space commerce is consistent with the previous Strategic Plan for 2018-2022.
(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)