Legis Daily

ORBITS Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-447| Senate 
| Updated: 11/6/2023
John W. Hickenlooper

John W. Hickenlooper

Democratic Senator

Colorado

Cosponsors (5)
Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Orbital Sustainability Act of 2023 or the ORBITS Act of 2023 This bill directs specified agencies to take actions to remediate orbital debris (human-made space objects that are no longer in use and can harm orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities). The Department of Commerce must publish and periodically update a list of orbital debris that may be remediated to reduce the risk of harm to orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must (1) establish a demonstration program to foster the development of technologies to remediate the orbital debris on the list, and (2) carry out other research and development activities to advance technologies for remediating orbital debris. NASA (and other relevant agencies) may also contract for remediation services to support the commercial availability of such services. Additionally, the National Space Council must update the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices within 90 days of the enactment of the bill and update them periodically thereafter. The updates must address matters including satellite constellations and other planned space systems, collision risks, and disposal of space systems after missions. The updates must inform (1) regulations of other agencies concerning orbital debris, and (2) bilateral and multilateral discussions with other countries concerning certain space activities. Finally, Commerce must facilitate the development of standard practices to coordinate on-orbit space traffic. Upon completion of the practices, Commerce and other federal departments must promote their adoption and use for space missions.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4814
ORBITS Act of 2022
Feb 15, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Feb 15, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 27, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 12, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 12, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 206.
Oct 31, 2023
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5264-5266)
Oct 31, 2023
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5264-5266)
Oct 31, 2023
The committee amendment as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 31, 2023
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5262-5266)
Nov 6, 2023
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 6, 2023
Received in the House.
Nov 6, 2023
Held at the desk.
Jun 18, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-8787
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4814
    ORBITS Act of 2022


  • February 15, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 15, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • July 27, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 12, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • September 12, 2023
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 206.


  • October 31, 2023
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5264-5266)


  • October 31, 2023
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5264-5266)


  • October 31, 2023
    The committee amendment as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.


  • October 31, 2023
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5262-5266)


  • November 6, 2023
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 6, 2023
    Received in the House.


  • November 6, 2023
    Held at the desk.


  • June 18, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-8787
    Introduced in House

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 118-8787: ORBITS Act of 2024
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvanced technology and technological innovationsCongressional oversightEconomic performance and conditionsGovernment information and archivesInternational scientific cooperationLicensing and registrationsRadio spectrum allocationResearch and developmentScientific communicationSpacecraft and satellitesTechnology assessment

ORBITS Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-447| Senate 
| Updated: 11/6/2023
Orbital Sustainability Act of 2023 or the ORBITS Act of 2023 This bill directs specified agencies to take actions to remediate orbital debris (human-made space objects that are no longer in use and can harm orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities). The Department of Commerce must publish and periodically update a list of orbital debris that may be remediated to reduce the risk of harm to orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must (1) establish a demonstration program to foster the development of technologies to remediate the orbital debris on the list, and (2) carry out other research and development activities to advance technologies for remediating orbital debris. NASA (and other relevant agencies) may also contract for remediation services to support the commercial availability of such services. Additionally, the National Space Council must update the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices within 90 days of the enactment of the bill and update them periodically thereafter. The updates must address matters including satellite constellations and other planned space systems, collision risks, and disposal of space systems after missions. The updates must inform (1) regulations of other agencies concerning orbital debris, and (2) bilateral and multilateral discussions with other countries concerning certain space activities. Finally, Commerce must facilitate the development of standard practices to coordinate on-orbit space traffic. Upon completion of the practices, Commerce and other federal departments must promote their adoption and use for space missions.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4814
ORBITS Act of 2022
Feb 15, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Feb 15, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 27, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 12, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 12, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 206.
Oct 31, 2023
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5264-5266)
Oct 31, 2023
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5264-5266)
Oct 31, 2023
The committee amendment as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 31, 2023
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5262-5266)
Nov 6, 2023
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 6, 2023
Received in the House.
Nov 6, 2023
Held at the desk.
Jun 18, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-8787
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4814
    ORBITS Act of 2022


  • February 15, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 15, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • July 27, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 12, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • September 12, 2023
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 206.


  • October 31, 2023
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5264-5266)


  • October 31, 2023
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5264-5266)


  • October 31, 2023
    The committee amendment as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.


  • October 31, 2023
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5262-5266)


  • November 6, 2023
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 6, 2023
    Received in the House.


  • November 6, 2023
    Held at the desk.


  • June 18, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-8787
    Introduced in House
John W. Hickenlooper

John W. Hickenlooper

Democratic Senator

Colorado

Cosponsors (5)
Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 118-8787: ORBITS Act of 2024
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvanced technology and technological innovationsCongressional oversightEconomic performance and conditionsGovernment information and archivesInternational scientific cooperationLicensing and registrationsRadio spectrum allocationResearch and developmentScientific communicationSpacecraft and satellitesTechnology assessment