The Orbital Sustainability Act of 2025 addresses the increasing threat of orbital debris to space operations. It sets standards for debris mitigation, establishes a demonstration project, and requires economic analysis of debris remediation demand. The Act emphasizes space traffic coordination and safety, impacting the regulation of space activity, satellite constellations, disposal, and debris tracking. It involves consulting with the space industry and other stakeholders, updating standards in the Federal Register, and collaborating on space traffic coordination practices. The bill encourages the adoption of standard practices for domestic and international space missions.
Orbital Sustainability Act of 2025 or the ORBITS Act of 2025
This bill requires specified agencies to support research and develop guidance on the remediation of orbital debris (human-made space objects that are no longer in use and can harm active satellites and space activities).
Under the bill, the Department of Commerce must maintain a list of orbital debris that may be remediated to improve safety and sustainability in space. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must establish a demonstration project to make competitive awards for research and development leading to the remediation of listed debris. NASA must ultimately select and partner with an entity to carry out a demonstration mission using technology capable of on-orbit remediation. After the first demonstration mission, NASA must report to Congress with recommendations to improve orbital debris remediation.
The bill also authorizes NASA and other relevant agencies to contract for orbital debris remediation services.
Separately, the National Space Council, in coordination with specified agencies, must update the existing U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices. This update must consider planned space systems (e.g., satellite constellations) and address factors including collision risk and post-mission disposal of space systems. The updated standard practices must be used to inform future federal regulations related to orbital debris and international discussions related to nongovernment space activities.
Finally, Commerce, in coordination with specified federal entities, must facilitate the development of standard practices for coordinating space traffic and promote their adoption and use for domestic and international space missions.
