U.S. Civil Space Primer

The civil space ecosystem refers to departments, agencies, and organizations of the federal government that have operational, regulatory, policy, or other responsibilities over the space activities of the United States, including private sector space activities, which are non-military in nature. Civil space has its roots in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which separated military and civilian space government functions and emphasized the peaceful character of U.S. pursuits in space. The Act also established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the first U.S. government organization dedicated to the civilian use of space. Since the establishment of NASA, many other elements of the federal government have assumed operational, regulatory, policy, or other responsibilities over civil space. This article describes the roles and responsibilities of government organizations with civil space roles and aims to serve as an informational resource for researchers and practitioners.