Bill Overview
Title: Space SSA Transition Act of 2022
Description: This bill sets out a process to transition responsibilities for space situational awareness capabilities (i.e., the knowledge and characterization of space objects and their operational environment to facilitate decisions that support safe, stable, and sustainable space activities) from the Department of Defense to the Department of Commerce by December 31, 2025. The bill requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish research and development programs related to space situational awareness.
Sponsors: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals dependent on or involved in satellite and space-related operations
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill primarily affects organizations involved in space activities and those reliant on safe and sustainable space operations, such as satellite operators.
- The Department of Defense and Department of Commerce are directly involved, impacting their personnel and operations related to space situational awareness.
- Space agencies and commercial space firms globally will be affected by changes in space situational awareness responsibilities and regulation.
- Consumers and businesses depending on satellite services, like GPS, communications, and weather forecasting, will experience indirect impacts.
- National and global security could be affected, as collision avoidance and debris management are crucial for maintaining space safety.
Reasoning
- The policy is primarily technical and affects specific sectors such as satellite operations, space-related government positions, and commercial space firms.
- A significant portion of the impact is indirect, affecting millions who rely on satellite services without direct involvement in space operations.
- The budget constraints mean the policy is focused more on the framework of responsibilities rather than immediate technological transformations, limiting short-term impact on wellbeing.
- Most Americans will not notice immediate changes, but those in the space industry could see shifts in job responsibilities and organizational priorities.
- There's a potential for this policy to set the stage for future developments, which could enhance national security and technology growth, indirectly improving wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Department of Commerce employee (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am supportive of this transition as it aligns with our goals to streamline space situational responsibilities.
- It's a lot of work, but I believe it will enhance our ability to manage space traffic and protect our assets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Satellite operator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This transition is crucial for our operations as accurate space data helps in avoiding collisions.
- I’m hopeful this will lead to more reliable and timely data for our industry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
NASA researcher (Huntsville, AL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our research will directly support these transition efforts, which is exciting.
- It provides a clear mandate that ensures continued funding and interest in our projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Software engineer in telecommunications (New York, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The transition might improve the quality of data we use, which is crucial for our systems.
- I see it as mostly positive, although the immediate impact is unclear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Startup owner in space tech (Denver, CO)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could open up more opportunities for my business.
- Transitioning responsibilities may lead to improved public-private partnerships.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Military personnel in space operations (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a significant change and brings a lot of inter-agency challenges.
- I'm optimistic about enhancing national security through better space situational awareness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Data analyst at a tech firm (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ultimately, consistency in data is more important than who manages it.
- The policy change might introduce some initial instability, but improvements are expected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired astronaut (Miami, FL)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen the importance of effective space situational awareness throughout my career.
- This transition could enhance America's leadership in space governance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Graduate student in aerospace engineering (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The shift in responsibilities is intriguing from a research perspective.
- It could mean more funding and resources allocated to areas of my studies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Television broadcast technician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our work heavily depends on uninterrupted satellite services.
- I hope this transition ensures continued precision and quality in space data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 2: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $450000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The pace and success of this transition relies heavily on the effective collaboration between defense and commerce departments.
- Potential overlap during the transition period could lead to inefficiencies and increased costs.
- The success of the NASA research and development programs could facilitate long-term benefits in space safety and efficiency.