The Commerce Department will move forward with a voluntary mission authorization system for novel space activities that are not currently regulated by other agencies. In March the Office of Space Commerce announced the Space Commerce Certification proposal, which would allow companies to submit information about their proposed activities for an interagency review, with a presumption of approval within 120 days if no action is taken. At a July 15 hearing of the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee, director Taylor Jordan said the proposal had been submitted to the White House and that the office hoped for approval, noting that the system would help streamline licensing requirements for other agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission. The certification would be voluntary because the office lacks statutory authority to require it, but it is intended to provide regulatory certainty for activities ranging from satellite servicing to commercial space stations. The Federal Communications Commission previously said that environmental and astronomy concerns related to a Reflect Orbital satellite fell outside its review, highlighting a gap in existing regulatory authority. Some members of the House Science Committee have expressed concerns that FCC provisions on space safety exceed the commission’s statutory authority under the Communications Act of 1934. FCC commissioners voted unanimously on July 22 to adopt new satellite licensing rules. The office plans to issue a call for interest in the Federal Register and intends to use initial applications as a pilot to refine the certification process.