AN INTRODUCTION

March 2024
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL (NSpC)?

• The National Space Council (NSpC) is the White House policy council responsible for ensuring the U.S. 

capitalizes on the rich opportunities presented by our nation’s space activities 

• Under the leadership of its chair, the Vice President, the NSpC advises and assists the President on the 

development and implementation of space policy and strategy and is comprised of Cabinet-level Secretaries 

and other senior executive branch officials

• The NSpC synchronizes the nation’s civil, commercial, and national security space activities to advance the 

broader priorities of the Administration

• The Council previously existed from 1958-73 and 1989-93

• Reestablished on 6/30/2017 by Executive Order 13803, and amended on 2/13/20 by Executive Order 13906

• Reauthorized on 12/1/21 by Executive Order 14056

• The NSpC is aided by a staff from the Executive Office of the President led by a civilian Executive Secretary
SPACE COUNCIL MTGS CHAIRED BY VICE PRESIDENT

• 1st meeting held 10/5/2017 at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy near Washington, DC

• 2nd meeting held 2/21/2018 at Space Station Processing Facility in Cape Canaveral, FL

• 3rd meeting held 6/18/2018 at White House in Washington, DC 

• 4th meeting held 10/23/2018 at National War College near Washington, DC

• 5th meeting held 3/26/2019 at U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL

• 6th meeting held 8/20/2019 at Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, DC

• 7th meeting held 5/19/2020 at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC

• 8th meeting held 12/9/2020 at Apollo/Saturn V Center at KSC Visitor Complex, Cape Canaveral, FL

• 9th meeting held 12/1/2021 at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, DC

• 10th meeting held 9/9/2022 at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

• 11th meeting held 12/20/2023 in Washington, DC
SUMMARY OF NSpC ACTIVITIES TO DATE

Policy & Recommendations (2017-2021)

• Space Policy Directives (SPDs) issued:

• SPD-1 (12/11/2017): Calls for U.S.-led integrated program with commercial partners to return humans to the 

Moon with missions to Mars and beyond to follow

• SPD-2 (5/24/2018): Calls for regulatory reform for commercial launch and reentry, commercial remote sensing, 

and spectrum use

• SPD-3 (6/18/2018): Directs the development of a national space traffic management policy to preserve the space 

environment for future use

• SPD-4 (2/19/2019): Establishes U.S. Space Force as a sixth military department, subordinate to the Air Force

• SPD-5 (9/04/2020): Establishes cybersecurity principles for space systems

• SPD-6 (12/16/2020): National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion

• SPD-7 (1/15/2021): Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy

• Directive to return U.S. astronauts to the surface of the Moon by 2024, establish a sustainable 

presence, and prepare for Mars issued in March 2019

• Additional Recommendations on low Earth orbit, lunar surface, Mars, international cooperation, 

and space nuclear power issued in August 2019
WHAT IS THE USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP (UAG)?

• The Users’ Advisory Group (UAG) is a Federal Advisory Committee governed by the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (FACA)

• Intended to be industry and other non-Federal stakeholders’ voice to the NSpC

• Tasked with advising the NSpC with any and all space policy issues relevant to these stakeholders

• Charter last renewed on November 29, 2023, and runs for two years unless renewed. Reaffirmed the six 

subcommittees established on December 1, 2021:

• Exploration & Discovery

• Economic Development & Industrial Base

• Climate & Societal Benefits

• STEM Education, Diversity & Inclusion 

• Data & Emerging Technology

• National Security

• On September 8, 2022, General Lester L. Lyles (USAF, ret.) appointed Chair

• On December 16, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of the NSpC, announced the individuals 

selected to serve on the UAG 

• February 23, 2023: UAG public meeting, 6th since 2017 

• December 1, 2023: UAG public meeting, 7th since 2017
USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP CHARTER: 

Scope

• Scope: Provide advice and recommendations to the NSpC on matters related to space policy and 

strategy, including Government policies, laws, regulations, treaties, international instruments, 

programs, and practices across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors

• Function: Ensure that the interests of industry and other non-Federal entities involved in space 

activities, in particular commercial entities, are adequately represented in the NSpC 

• The UAG shall provide advice and recommendations on matters including, but not limited to:

• Strengthening U.S. leadership in space exploration

• Advancing norms of responsible behavior in space

• Safeguarding national security 

• Emphasizing cyber security 

• Addressing climate change and improving life on Earth 

• Promoting a globally competitive commercial space sector and regional economic development

• Encouraging international cooperation

• Removing systematic barriers and advancing equity for traditionally underserved communities 

• Building diverse space workforce for the future

• Promoting science, technology, engineering, and math opportunities for underserved students and 

professionals
FOCUS AREAS:

Exploration and Discovery Subcommittee

•Evaluation of the Artemis architecture, specifically its 

implications for commercial space and the lunar economy

•Evaluation of the maximum possible inclusion of science in 

defining the Artemis architecture and mission planning

•Assess & provide advice on the implementation strategy of a 

commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) regulatory authority
FOCUS AREAS:

Economic Development & Industrial Base Subcommittee

•Assessment of the space enterprise to ensure a broad and 

diverse outreach to the full capacity of the U.S. industrial base, 

including small businesses

•Evaluation of government-industry partnership models

•Assessment of the space supply chain for opportunities and 

possible issues

•Assessment of the extent of international partnerships and 

collaborations
FOCUS AREAS:

Climate & Societal Benefits Subcommittee

• Unleashing the full potential of Earth observation - improving 

government cooperation with the commercial sector

• Pursuing a climate-smart agriculture - enhanced by spacebased observations and technologies
FOCUS AREAS:

Data & Emerging Technology Subcommittee

• Support development of Space Traffic Management (STM) in 

the Dept. of Commerce, including assessment of technical, 

international collaboration, and regulatory needs

•Assess & leverage related studies by other organizations (e.g., 

Dept. of Defense / Defense Science Board, National 

Academy of Engineering, and Non-Governmental 

Organizations)
FOCUS AREAS:

STEM, Education, and D&I Subcommittee

• Support the "Inspire, Prepare, Employ" strategy

•Build linkages with U.S. Government agencies/departments 

and others for complementary programs

• Promote & refine the role of commercial space integration & 

the role of "Future G” as both enablers and beneficiaries of 

STEM D&I workforce development effort

•Acknowledge and promote that the space industry is more 

than STEM - e.g., a “skilled technical workforce"
FOCUS AREAS:

National Security Subcommittee

•Assess planned U.S. Space Force integration of commercial 

capabilities to support/augment/assume National Security 

missions and needs.

•Examine opportunities for greater information sharing , 

partnerships, and collaboration amongst the various space 

sectors (National Security, civil, commercial, and private).

•Examine international collaborations & partnerships
FOR MORE 

INFORMATION

• UAG Website (hosted by NASA):

https://www.nasa.gov/usersadvisorygroup/

• To Provide Feedback: 

To submit a question, comment, or 

idea to the UAG, please use the 

contact email below.

Please note: Anything sent to this 

email account may be subject to 

future public release under applicable 

federal laws and regulations. As such, 

please do not send information or 

documents that are classified, 

proprietary, trade secrets, contain 

personally sensitive information, or 

are otherwise inappropriate for public 

release.

contact@spacecounciluag.org