S. 4814: ORBITS Act of 2022
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S. 4814: ORBITS Act of 2022
117th Congress · introduced 2022-09-12 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Held at the desk.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2022-09-12 · official record
- Who proposed it: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Held at the desk. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
ORBITS Act of 2022
Plain summary
Orbital Sustainability Act of 2022 or the ORBITS Act of 2022 This bill directs specified agencies to take actions to remediate orbital debris (human-made space objects that are no longer in use and can harm orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities). First, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must publish and periodically update a list of orbital debris that pose the greatest immediate risk of harm to orbiting satellites and on-orbit activities, establish a demonstration program to foster the development of technologies to remediate the orbital debris on the list, and carry out other research and development activities to advance technologies for remediating orbital debris. NASA (and other relevant agencies) may also contract for remediation services to support the commercial availability of such services. Second, the National Space Council must update the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices within 90 days of the enactment of the bill and update them periodically thereafter. The updates must address matters including satellite constellations and other planned space systems, collision risks, and disposal of space systems after missions. The updates must inform (1) regulations of other agencies concerning orbital debris, and (2) bilateral and multilateral discussions with other countries concerning certain space activities. Third, the Department of Commerce must facilitate the development of standard practices to coordinate on-orbit space traffic. Upon completion of the practices, Commerce and other federal departments must promote their adoption and use for space missions.
Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “Yea” vote
If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.
A “Nay” vote
If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.
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What does this mean? (plain words)
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The strongest published arguments
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Alternatives
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] · 3 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)
Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] reported raising $9.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.
No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.
Words on this page, explained (2)
- Bill
- A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
- Rulemaking
- The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s4814.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>
Record fed-us-cong117-s4814 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117