The USAF's move to take over responsibility for the dissemination of orbital data from NASA/OIG, has become law. I have appended the text of the enabling legislation. I have heard that the USAF's system will be in place by 2004 May 1, delivered through a civilian sub-contractor. NASA/OIG would continue to operate as a backup, for about 6-12 months, but it is not clear whether or not it will remain accessible once the USAF's system begins operation. I believe that it is likely that the new service will greatly reduce access to data by the general public, but details have yet to emerge. I believe that hobbyist technology can be improved to enable us to track and maintain the orbits of a significant portion of payloads, rocket-bodies and large debris - if we choose to do so. Ted Molczan Excerpt from NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004: http://armedservices.house.gov/billsandreports/108thcongress/hr1588confreport.pd f SEC. 913. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF SPACE SURVEILLANCE NETWORK SERVICES TO NON-UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. (a) IN GENERAL.--Chapter 135 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 2273, as added by section 912(a), the following new section: ‘‘§ 2274. Space surveillance network: pilot program for provision of satellite tracking support to entities outside United States Government ‘‘(a) PILOT PROGRAM.--The Secretary of Defense may carry out a pilot program to determine the feasibility and desirability of providing to non-United States Government entities space surveillance data support described in subsection (b). ‘‘(b) SPACE SURVEILLANCE DATA SUPPORT.--Under such a pilot program, the Secretary may provide to a non-United States Government entity, subject to an agreement described in subsection (d), the following: ‘‘(1) Satellite tracking services from assets owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, but only if the Secretary determines, in the case of any such agreement, that providing such services to that entity is in the national security interests of the United States. ‘‘(2) Space surveillance data and the analysis of space surveillance data, but only if the Secretary determines, in the case of any such agreement, that providing such data and analysis to that entity is in the national security interests of the United States. ‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.--Under the pilot program, the Secretary may provide space surveillance data support to non-United States Government entities including the following: ‘‘(1) State governments. ‘‘(2) Governments of political subdivisions of States. ‘‘(3) United States commercial entities. ‘‘(4) Governments of foreign countries. ‘‘(5) Foreign commercial entities. ‘‘(d) REQUIRED AGREEMENT.--The Secretary may not provide space surveillance data support to a non-United States Government entity under the pilot program unless that entity enters into an agreement with the Secretary under which the entity-- ‘‘(1) agrees to pay an amount that may be charged by the Secretary under subsection (e); and ‘‘(2) agrees not to transfer any data or technical information received under the agreement, including the analysis of tracking data, to any other entity without the express approval of the Secretary. ‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION CONCERNING PROVISION OF INTELLIGENCE ASSETS OR DATA.--Nothing in this section shall be considered to authorize the provision of services or information concerning, or derived from, United States intelligence assets or data. ‘‘(f) CHARGES.--(1) As a condition of an agreement under subsection (d), the Secretary may (except as provided in paragraph (2)) require the non-United States Government entity entering into the agreement to pay to the Department of Defense such amounts as the Secretary determines to be necessary to reimburse the Department for the costs of the Department of providing space surveillance data support under the agreement. ‘‘(2) The Secretary may not require the government of a State or of a political subdivision of a State to pay any amount under paragraph (1). ‘‘(g) CREDITING OF FUNDS RECEIVED.--Funds received for the provision of space surveillance data support pursuant to an agreement under this section shall be credited to accounts of the Department of Defense that are current when the funds are received and that are available for the same purposes as the accounts originally charged to provide such support. Funds so credited shall merge with and become available for obligation for the same period as the accounts to which they are credited. ‘‘(h) PROCEDURES.--The Secretary shall establish procedures for the conduct of the pilot program. As part of those procedures, the Secretary may allow space surveillance data and analysis of space surveillance data to be provided through a contractor of the Department of Defense. ‘‘(i) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.--The pilot program under this section shall be conducted during the three-year period beginning on a date specified by the Secretary of Defense, which date shall be not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section.’’. (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 2273, as added by section 912(b), the following new item: ‘‘2274. Space surveillance network: pilot program for provision of satellite tracking support to entities outside United States Government.’’. ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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