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Wednesday, October 16, 2002

U.S. Chamber's Space Enterprise Council Recommends Changes to National Space Policy
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Space Enterprise Council of the United States Chamber of Commerce announced today that it has issued two policy papers with recommended changes to the nation’s policies covering space transportation and commercial remote sensing.      

“Implementing our policy recommendations will reinforce the government’s commitment to the space industry and help ensure the economic and national security of our country,” said Dawn Sienicki, executive director of the Chamber’s Space Enterprise Council. “We must commit now to preserving the technological edge and competitive advantage of the U.S. space transportation industry.”  

The Council’s space transportation recommendations include establishing national objectives, expanding the scope of the policy to include “in-space” transportation, streamlining the licensing and regulatory processes, enhancing the government–industry partnership, and modernizing the space launch infrastructure.  The health of the U.S. space transportation industry is threatened, in part due to the decline of the telecommunications market, increased foreign competition, insufficient U.S. government space launch R&D budgets, and cumbersome oversight processes.

Currently, the U.S. commercial industry has two high-resolution remote sensing satellites that provide images sharp enough to count cars parked on a street. The uses for this technology include protecting our homeland, state and local government mapping, forestry and environmental monitoring, insurance and risk management, and disaster assessment. 

However, foreign competitors are closing the gap on our technology lead.  Unique and excessive restrictions placed on U.S. remote sensing companies and the lack of a sustained, predictable U.S. government commitment to the industry are stifling U.S. competitiveness. In order for U.S. industry to maintain its technological edge, changes need to be made to the current policy in four critical areas: government-industry relationships, operating licensing, export controls, and shutter control. 

The Chamber launched the Space Enterprise Council (www.uschamber.com/space) in 2000 to advance the interests of a broad range of space businesses.  The United States Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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