OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION STRATEGIC PLAN
TO STRENGTHEN U.S. LEADERSHIP IN SPACE COMMERCE

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commercialization today released its strategic plan designed to enable a robust and responsive U.S. industry that is the world leader in space commerce. The plan describes how OSC shall foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry.

“Strengthening U.S. space commerce greatly enhances our U.S. economic and national security,” said Commerce Deputy Secretary David A. Sampson. “This plan will help drive investment and innovation in the commercial space industry.”

“This plan outlines actions for facilitating U.S. industry development and reaffirms OSC’s statutory role as the principal unit for space commerce policy activities within the Commerce Department.” added retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

Under the strategic plan, OSC will assist commercial space companies in their efforts to do business with the U.S. government, seek to remove institutional impediments to space commerce, and increase awareness of opportunities to promote private sector investment in U.S. space commerce. The full plan can be viewed at http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/space/library/reports/#stratplan2007 .

“We are very excited to release the OSC Strategic Plan and look forward to continued stakeholder engagement during its execution,” said OSC Executive Director Edward Morris.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is celebrating 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

On the Web:

Office of Space Commercialization: http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/space/

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov