Transparency In Space

My colleague Bob Brewin notes that President Obama has let up on the government's long held belief that America controls outer space in signing a new national space policy that contemplates relying on non-U.S. satellite navigation for backup and support.

The plan also imagines extraterrestrial observation as a way of advancing the White House's open government initiative, which centers on information disclosure and public-private collaboration throughout all levels of government, including overseas.

Some of the transparency-related items in the policy:

Departments and agencies, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall "promote the adoption of policies internationally that facilitate full, open and timely access to government environmental data."

Non-security areas for potential collaboration with foreign governments include earth science and observation; environmental monitoring; geospatial information products and services; search and rescue; use of space for maritime domain awareness; and long-term preservation of the space environment for human activity and use.