scope:

Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5111.1 and the November 30, 2006, Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, this issuance:

• Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures, in accordance with DoDD 3100.10, for the DoD management of risks associated with laser illuminations of objects in space.

• Establishes the requirement for a quantitative probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) process to categorize DoD-owned or -operated lasers that could direct energy above the horizon or in space and implements risk acceptance standards for DoD-owned or -operated resident space objects (RSOs).

• Establishes an exempt category of lasers that do not require coordination, notification, or permission before use due to the minimal risk they pose to RSOs.

• Provides guidance on management of DoD-owned and -operated lasers that have transitioned from research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) status into DoD weapon systems.

• Supersedes the unclassified information in the May 15, 2014, Commander Joint Functional Component Command for Space (JFCC SPACE) Memorandum; and the 2011-01 Director, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Memorandum.

APPLICABILITY. This issuance applies to:

a. The OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this issuance as the "DoD Components").

b. All DoD-owned or -operated lasers, whether land-, air-, sea-, or space-based systems, conducting lasing operations in space or intending to direct energy above the horizon that may unintentionally illuminate RSOs.

c. All DoD-owned or -operated lasers that deliberately illuminate points in space or RSOs for any purpose.

d. All DoD-owned, -leased, or -operated RSOs, and other RSOs as specified by the Commander, United States Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM).