Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves addressed the Commercial Spaceflight Federation on August 27, 2024. He expressed gratitude to Isaiah Wonnenberg from the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and Frank Jannuzi from the Mansfield Foundation for organizing the event with ASTEC partners.
Graves emphasized the historical significance of U.S.-Japan relations, noting his great-great-great-grandfather James Wormley's role in hosting Japan's first commission to visit the United States in 1860. He highlighted that current U.S.-Japan ties are crucial not only for both nations but also for the Indo-Pacific region and globally.
"The United States is undertaking unprecedented efforts with partners in the region to realize the vision of an Indo-Pacific that is, in President Biden’s words, 'open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure,'" Graves stated.
He outlined three primary objectives of the Administration and Commerce Department: strategic domestic investments coupled with deepening commercial ties in critical sectors like space; safeguarding national security through trusted tech ecosystems and preventing misuse of sensitive technologies; and expanding engagement with the Global South to offer attractive infrastructure alternatives.
Graves noted that these areas underscore indispensable U.S.-Japan cooperation for global security and prosperity. He praised efforts by Director Richard DalBello at the Office of Space Commerce and highlighted initiatives such as forming a Commercial Space Coordination Committee involving multiple Commerce bureaus.
The speech detailed five focus areas:
1. **Regulatory Coordination**: Emphasizing clarity, consistency, and transparency for businesses.
2. **Expanding Customer Base**: Growing opportunities through international engagements.
3. **Space Safety and Sustainability**: Developing systems like TraCSS for space traffic coordination.
4. **Promoting Innovation**: Supporting new markets through satellite data purchases.
5. **Advancing Earth Observation Capabilities**: Enhancing weather forecasting and climate monitoring technologies.
Graves concluded by reiterating the importance of continued dialogue between U.S. and Japanese commercial space operators to maintain competitive edges in this emerging sector.
"Thank you for your time, and best wishes for today’s dialogue," he said.
