{"id":65723,"date":"2018-03-20T01:28:15","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T17:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/in-orbit-servicing-regulations-must-balance-innovation-and-risk-2\/"},"modified":"2018-03-20T01:28:15","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T17:28:15","slug":"in-orbit-servicing-regulations-must-balance-innovation-and-risk-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/in-orbit-servicing-regulations-must-balance-innovation-and-risk-2\/","title":{"rendered":"In-Orbit Servicing Regulations Must Balance Innovation and Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The primary function of on-orbit servicing regulations should be to enable the growth and expansion of the business rather than restrict it, said a panel of experts during a Wednesday afternoon panel at the SATELLITE 2018 Conference &amp; Exhibition. During a discussion on the policy challenges facing this new market, the speakers emphasized the commercial risks of the United Sates losing its lead in developing on-orbit servicing technology.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple companies, militaries and government organizations are exploring the potential benefits of on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations. But in the U.S., there remains a dearth of standards to guide the path forward, even as the technology\u2019s commercial viability becomes more evident and attractive. Because the capability is still so new, there is no government agency currently tasked with regulating it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/CHf84OVzQPigAa9n6nC8_ShowDaily18_Cover_Wrapup_DGTL-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/CHf84OVzQPigAa9n6nC8_ShowDaily18_Cover_Wrapup_DGTL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/CHf84OVzQPigAa9n6nC8_ShowDaily18_Cover_Wrapup_DGTL-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/CHf84OVzQPigAa9n6nC8_ShowDaily18_Cover_Wrapup_DGTL-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/CHf84OVzQPigAa9n6nC8_ShowDaily18_Cover_Wrapup_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the Show Daily 2018 Wrap Up Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) monitors spectrum, while the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) keeps an eye on launch. But on-orbit servicing remains in limbo. The National Space Council recently recommended the Department of Commerce to be the regulatory authority for all space activities excluding launch, reentry and spectrum, but as it stands, legislation has not kept pace with the technology or companies\u2019 business timelines.<\/p>\n<p>According to Tahara Dawkins, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office, five U.S. companies have already secured licenses to pursue on-orbit servicing, including Orbital ATK and SSL. That number will only increase now that the business case is more realistic, and international players will be soon to follow. Dawkins warned there could be significant ramifications if the regulatory environment in the U.S. is not conducive to these companies\u2019 plans. \u201cIf we restrict this industry to a place where they\u2019re not commercially viable, then this gets driven overseas,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Dawkins pointed out that the U.S. has made this mistake before. In the 1990s, U.S. companies saw a lucrative opportunity in offering Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) services. But a messy, undefined regulatory environment eventually pushed those investments to other, better-equipped regions. To this day, the U.S. lags behind countries like Canada in the SAR market.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6d1ec78539a;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6d1ec78539a = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6d1ec78539b').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6d1ec78539b'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf our government is not taking leadership in this, others will, and the consequences of that are much more dire than any technical risk I see,\u201d said Al Tadros, SSL\u2019s vice president of space infrastructure and civil space.<\/p>\n<p>But although the industry is quite excited about the potential profitability of on-orbit servicing, Lisa Kuo, director of commercial programs at the Aerospace Corporation, warned that overly loose regulations could be equally risky. \u201cEverybody at the beginning is going to be doing [on-orbit servicing] in a very different fashion. So should we just let everybody do their own thing and not regulate them? I don\u2019t think so,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen on-orbit servicing is in its infancy, we need to set clear guidelines and policies \u2026 until it\u2019s at a point where everything is a lot more standardized.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vice President of SES Government Solutions Tim Deaver said that proper regulations also come with financial benefits as well. A solid regulatory framework reduces the overall risk profile, making the business case more attractive for potential investors, he explained.<\/p>\n<p>Kuo cautioned regulators to take a big-picture approach when drafting new legislation for the market. While initial projects such as Orbital ATK\u2019s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) will focus largely on refueling missions, additional capabilities are expected to soon emerge. \u201cWhen we\u2019re thinking about on-orbit servicing we shouldn\u2019t limit ourselves to just extending life. It\u2019s ultimately one step toward manufacturing and integrating stuff in space,\u201d she said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want a set of regulations and policies that only apply to fueling services\u201d when the ultimate goal is payload augmentation and other rendezvous operations. The true \u201choly grail\u201d \u2014 although it may be decades away \u2014 is on-orbit robotic assembly, Kuo said.<\/p>\n<p>As an example, Deavers pointed to SES\u2019 interest in hosted payloads. In January, NASA launched its Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission, attaching a scientific payload to a commercial satellite for the first time in history. One of the challenges he identified was lining up NASA\u2019s timeline, the company\u2019s own schedule and the limited launch window. In the future, Deavers predicts a more flexible scenario in which hosted payloads can be bolted onto a spacecraft already in orbit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cServicing is going to be quite varied,\u201d Tadros said. \u201cOne of our programs, Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS), is designed to have multifunctional robotic arms that can bring up new tools and equipment and conduct servicing that was not envisioned when we launched it originally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Because these companies are already thinking about next-generation capabilities, Dawkins highlighted the importance of including them in the regulatory conversation. NOAA\u2019s priority is to avoid a repeat of the missteps with SAR; as such, regulatory agencies must remain informed about the direction the market will likely head next. At the same time, it\u2019s important for companies to understand how NOAA (and soon, the Department of Commerce) plans to regulate their businesses. \u201cIf any of this is a non-starter and kills your business, let me know that now,\u201d she said. VS<\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 357:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HMEA5jbpRRyWk1ipzNgW__MG_1168-300x157.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HMEA5jbpRRyWk1ipzNgW__MG_1168-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HMEA5jbpRRyWk1ipzNgW__MG_1168-800x419.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HMEA5jbpRRyWk1ipzNgW__MG_1168-640x336.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HMEA5jbpRRyWk1ipzNgW__MG_1168.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t$1 Trillion Economy Relies on a Sustainable Space Regime<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 353:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"189\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/8vaRIBjTLCIgti7AAIv5__MG_1114-300x189.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/8vaRIBjTLCIgti7AAIv5__MG_1114-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/8vaRIBjTLCIgti7AAIv5__MG_1114-800x504.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/8vaRIBjTLCIgti7AAIv5__MG_1114-640x404.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/8vaRIBjTLCIgti7AAIv5__MG_1114.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t5G: Conflicts and Opportunities for Satellite<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 354:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/dsGmpXBwSy2b62cpxHA0_Isotropic20Lunch-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/dsGmpXBwSy2b62cpxHA0_Isotropic20Lunch-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/dsGmpXBwSy2b62cpxHA0_Isotropic20Lunch-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/dsGmpXBwSy2b62cpxHA0_Isotropic20Lunch-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/dsGmpXBwSy2b62cpxHA0_Isotropic20Lunch.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSATELLITE 2018 Provides a Much-Needed Boost of Confidence for an Evolving Industry<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 352:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/FYpxHuXTGdL5Hd91ujZg_MH37020flaperon-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/FYpxHuXTGdL5Hd91ujZg_MH37020flaperon-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/FYpxHuXTGdL5Hd91ujZg_MH37020flaperon-1024x683-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/FYpxHuXTGdL5Hd91ujZg_MH37020flaperon-1024x683-1-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/FYpxHuXTGdL5Hd91ujZg_MH37020flaperon-1024x683-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSatellite Can Prevent Another MH370, Though Difficult<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 355:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/qBXNrmkUSNuGnwK0NQTw_hand-3190204_1280-300x183.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/qBXNrmkUSNuGnwK0NQTw_hand-3190204_1280-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/qBXNrmkUSNuGnwK0NQTw_hand-3190204_1280-800x487.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/qBXNrmkUSNuGnwK0NQTw_hand-3190204_1280-640x390.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/qBXNrmkUSNuGnwK0NQTw_hand-3190204_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSpace Start-Ups: Where Do They Go Next?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 350:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HEUvdrSqfOrPUdP6QnQa__MG_1453-300x183.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HEUvdrSqfOrPUdP6QnQa__MG_1453-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HEUvdrSqfOrPUdP6QnQa__MG_1453-800x488.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HEUvdrSqfOrPUdP6QnQa__MG_1453-640x390.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/HEUvdrSqfOrPUdP6QnQa__MG_1453.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tTo Compete in a 5G World, Satellite Needs to Work Alongside Cellular Networks<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 356:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Vf0YUk7LSAyIzfV3q2vi_ConnectedCarMarch-300x202.png\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Vf0YUk7LSAyIzfV3q2vi_ConnectedCarMarch-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Vf0YUk7LSAyIzfV3q2vi_ConnectedCarMarch-800x539.png 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Vf0YUk7LSAyIzfV3q2vi_ConnectedCarMarch-640x431.png 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Vf0YUk7LSAyIzfV3q2vi_ConnectedCarMarch.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tWill Latency Hold Back Satellite in Connected Car Market?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The primary function of on-orbit servicing regulations should be to enable the growth and expansion of the business rather than restrict it, said a panel of experts during a Wednesday afternoon panel at the SATELLITE 2018 Conference &amp; Exhibition. During a discussion on the policy challenges facing this new market, the speakers emphasized the commercial [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65725,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65723"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}