3rd NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL LISTENING SESSION ON IN-SPACE AUTH AND SUPERVISION, Dec 15, 2022, virtual, 10:00 am ET

Update, December 9: A notice in today’s Federal Register confirms the time now is 10:00-11:30 am ET.

NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL

Notice of In-Space Authorization and Supervision Policy, 
Additional Listening Session; Correction

AGENCY: Executive Office of the President (EOP) National Space Council.

SUMMARY: The National Space Council published a document in the Federal 
Register of 29 November 2022 concerning a third virtual listening 
session. The document contained incorrect times.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Howard at 
MBX.NSpC.IASP@ovp.eop.gov or by calling 202.456.7831.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of 29 November 2022, 
in FR Doc. 2022-25961, on page 73299, in the third column, correct the 
DATES caption to read:

Dates

1. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision continued:
    Thursday, 15 December 2022 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. ET

    Dated: 6 December 2022.

Update, December 7: The National Space Council says the time has changed from 1:00 pm to 10:00 am ET.

Original Entry: The White House National Space Council planned two “listening sessions” on In-Space Authorization and Supervision, but later decided to add a third to accommodate additional speakers. It will be held virtually on December 15, 2022. (The first two were on November 14 and November 21.)

More information is in the Federal Register notice, which is reproduced below:

NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL


Notice of In-Space Authorization and Supervision Policy, 
Additional Listening Session

AGENCY: Executive Office of the President (EOP), National Space 
Council.

SUMMARY: On 9 September 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of 
the National Space Council, requested Council Members to provide ``a 
proposal for the authorization and supervision of commercial novel 
space activities within 180 days[.]''
    The White House National Space Council in the Executive Office of 
the President has held two virtual 2 hour listening sessions to engage 
with members of the public and learn about novel space capabilities and 
innovative missions, experiences with United States regulatory bodies, 
and approaches to mission authorization and supervision that can evolve 
over time. See Federal Register Notice ID NSPC-2022-0001-0001.
    The National Space Council is now scheduling a third virtual 
listening session to accommodate additional speaker requests.
    Perspectives gathered during the virtual listening sessions will 
inform the National Space Council as it develops a whole-of-government 
framework that provides a clear, predictable, and flexible process in 
furtherance of the United States Space Priorities Framework (December 
2021) which states that ``U.S regulations must provide clarity and 
certainty for the authorization and supervision of non-governmental 
space activities, including for novel activities such as on-orbit 
services, orbital debris removal, space-based manufacturing, commercial 
human spaceflight, and recovery and use of space resources.''

Dates

1. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision continued:
    Thursday, 15 December 2022 1 p.m.-2 p.m. ET
    Registration deadlines:
1. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision continued:
    Thursday, 15 December 2022 1 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Register for a virtual listening session using the link 
below:
    Approaches to Authorization & Supervision: 
https://pitc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItc-6sqD8oHJZ0i2ezS2epxdLPUzub8eI.
    Please upload written comments to Regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Howard at 
MBX.NSpC.IASP@ovp.eop.gov or by calling 202.456.7831.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Novel activities relate to those missions/
activities that are not directly reviewed under existing regulatory 
regimes, including assembly and manufacturing, mining, and fueling 
stations. Participants are invited to share information about their 
missions--the different phases from cradle to grave as

[[Page 73300]]

well the multiple aspects of these phases. i.e. the communications 
aspect, role of imagery in operations, in-space safety protocols such 
as conjunction assessment and collision avoidance, and any others 
participants believe are appropriate to be considered.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 14056 and Title V of Public Law 100-
685, National Space Council is soliciting public input through these 
virtual listening sessions to obtain information and recommendations 
from a wide array of stakeholders, including representatives from 
diverse industries, academia, other relevant organizations and 
institutions, and the general public. Virtual listening sessions will 
inform National Space Council Members as they develop applicable 
national space policy as described herein.
    The virtual listening session focuses on the theme of the 
previously held second session, as described below:

1. Session on Approaches for Authorization & Supervision

    Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty obligates the United States to 
authorize and provide continuous supervision for the space activities 
of its non-governmental entities. Authorization refers to governmental 
permission to perform a mission or activity and supervision means 
ongoing governmental oversight of some sort or degree sufficient to 
ensure consistency with the Outer Space Treaty. The goal is a clear, 
predictable, and flexible regulatory and policy environment for private 
sector space activities that will grow and evolve in response to 
technological advancement and enable continued sustainability of the 
space environment. This requires understanding of the operational phase 
of these missions.
    Participants are invited to share information about their 
experiences and opinions about obtaining authorization to perform their 
current and planned activities and if/how these activities are being 
supervised, if current, and ideas for supervision of planned missions, 
to include incentives, monitoring, reporting, and others.
    Speakers will have 3 minutes each to present comments and 
participants will be allowed to provide further details and 
perspectives in written format within 45 days of this publication.