U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves spoke recently with global space leaders about the future of the space sector and how to make the space economy more commercially accessible.
Graves delivered the keynote address at the Space Foundation's Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Department of Commerce (DOC) announced April 26. In his remarks, Graves "stressed President Biden’s commitment to ramp up U.S. government engagement with American business in support of the space economy," the news release reports.
“At the Department of Commerce, we want to ensure the United States remains a leader for businesses operating in space,” Graves said in the address, according to the news release. “It’s our job to improve America’s competitiveness so that our companies can succeed in the global economy.”
Graves also stressed the "significant role" of the DOC in promoting the U.S. and global space sector, the release reports, and of the importance of working with industry to support innovation, expand business opportunities, and provide clarity, consistency, and transparency for investors and competitors.
The deputy secretary then hosted a roundtable with top executives from 14 U.S. space companies to discuss ways to grow the space economy, as well as potential challenges, such as U.S. regulation of novel space activities, navigating U.S. export controls on advanced technologies, and how the DOC can increase international competitiveness and space situational awareness, according to the release.
Graves' trip to Colorado included a visit to the Annual Space Weather Workshop in Boulder, Colo., April 27, where the focus was on the importance of monitoring, understanding and forecasting weather in space. During his visit, Graves described the DOC's intentions to become a Space Weather-Ready Nation by providing actionable space weather information.
“The Commerce Department is committed to providing decision makers across the public, private, academic, and research sectors with critical, actionable data and information to inform their decisions,” Graves said, according to the release. “Space weather information and products are vital to ensuring a safe and operationally sustainable space environment.”
