WASHINGTON - The Office of Space Commerce has come forward with a proposal to regulate novel space activities, promising companies a clear path forward without the usual bureaucratic hair-pulling. The plan, unveiled in March, offers a voluntary “Space Commerce Certification” for companies to prove they’re playing by the rules without getting tangled in red tape.

“The current licensing regime is not designed to address them,” said Taylor Jordan, director of the office, referring to activities like satellite servicing and commercial space stations at a July 15 House Science Committee hearing. “U.S. regulations simply do not offer a clear path to ‘yes’ for novel activities. Instead, they risk trapping our industry in an endless maze.”

Under the proposal, the office would become a one-stop shop for companies planning novel space ventures, collecting info and coordinating with other agencies. “The cornerstone of our proposal is the creation of a certification that is intended to unify existing regulatory pathways into a clear, straightforward, centralized process,” Jordan said. Companies that get certified could use it to satisfy requirements from the FAA and FCC, saving them from multiple application headaches.

Lawmakers agreed on the need for clarity. Rep. Brian Babin noted the House passed similar legislation nearly a decade ago, only for it to die in the Senate. “We must provide the regulatory certainty that companies need,” said Rep. Mike Haridopolos. Rep. Zoe Lofgren added, “Clarity about who regulates specific activities is needed.”

Jordan said the proposal is awaiting White House approval but has support from involved agencies. If approved, the office will call for applications from industry to test the process, focusing on “mature technologies and mature missions.”

The hearing also touched on the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a civil space situational awareness system the office is developing. The White House’s FY2027 budget proposed zero funding for it, instead suggesting user fees. Jordan vowed TraCSS would continue in some form. “The question is not should we provide SSA data, it’s how do we do that as the federal government.”