SWF Filing: Response to FCC NPRM on Space Modernization for the 21st Century
Secure World Foundation filed a formal response to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on “Space Modernization for the 21st Century.” In this filing, SWF commends the Commission’s intent to modernize space and Earth station licensing and focuses its feedback on areas most relevant to orbital safety, sustainability, and the regulation of novel space operations.
The comments address three major issues:
- The creation of a new licensing category for Variable Trajectory Spacecraft Systems (VTSS)
- Expanded data-sharing and reporting requirements for operators
- A certification-based approach to orbital debris mitigation
SWF emphasizes the need for licensing clarity while acknowledging the diversity of mission types not captured by traditional GSO/NGSO categories. The comments also encourage interagency coordination—especially with the Office of Space Commerce (OSC)—and support risk-informed certification and flexible reporting mechanisms that promote responsible space operations without imposing unnecessary burdens on operators.
