InternationalLunarPolicy

ILRS Member Senegal Joins Artemis Accords

“Senegal chooses to join the great human adventure that has always driven us to explore the unknown,” Maram Kairé, the director general of the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies, said at a ceremony at NASA HQ in DC. “This signature marks a meaningful step in our space diplomacy and in our ambition to contribute to the peaceful exploration of outer space.” 

BusinessCivilEurope

Global Space Economy Tops $600B For The First Time

The global space economy grew nearly 8% in 2024 to $613B, according to a report released Tuesday by the Space Foundation. 

Polaris

FCC Considers Cutting Regs as Trump Celebrates US Space Potential

Last week, the FCC took a big step towards one of the Trump administration’s key goals in space: eliminating bureaucracy that bogs down innovation in the private sector.

MilitaryPolicy

Lawmakers Want DoD Briefings on Nuke Propulsion, VLEO, Commercial PNT

Buried in the hundreds of amendments approved by the committee, lawmakers asked for a number of reports or briefings on many space topics.

PolarisPolicy

Rep. Stevens’ Bill Would Invest in US Rare Earths Supply Chain

The commercial space economy runs on rare Earth minerals, but the rare Earths in space today have one thing in common: the vast majority come from China. 

ISAMPolicy

GAO Examines ISAM’s User Uptake Challenges

The government could require future satellites to be ready for servicing or in-space refueling missions as a way to help the fledgling ISAM industry, according to a GAO report released Thursday. 

PolarisQ&A

Hypersonics and Heritage with Rep. Vince Fong

Fong, who joined Congress in June 2024 after a special election, chatted with Payload about how commercial space can support US space ambitions, the administration’s NASA budget request, and the long history of space and aeronautics achievement in his district.

BusinessMilitary

York Takes Legal Action Against DoD’s SBIR Award to Apex

What’s the purpose of a SBIR award? That’s the question at the heart of a lawsuit York Space Systems has filed against the military, over a contract awarded to fellow satellite builder Apex Space.

PolarisPolicy

CU Boulder Establishes Space Policy Professorship

A new professorship at the University of Colorado Boulder aims to bridge the gap between space engineering, business, and law, by emphasizing the importance of space governance to the whole industry.

VC/PE

Lux Aeterna Raises $4M for Reusable Sat Buses

The Denver, CO-based startup emerged from stealth today with $4M in pre-seed funding to help it develop a fully reusable satellite bus that can fly a mission, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, and fly again.

EO

Maxar Unveils Sentry Tracking Product

Maxar unveiled a new product today to provide persistent monitoring of sites around the world, making it easier to spot anomalies or recognize patterns.

EuropePolaris

Where Does Space Fit Into NATO Funding Boost?

“I think in general allies are looking to invest more [in space] …particularly at this point at a national level,” she said. “There’s a lot of interest, primarily in commercial capabilities and accessing off-the-shelf capabilities.” 

EOPolicy

EO CEOs Slam ‘Shortsighted and Perilous’ Budget Request

Leaders at six of America’s biggest remote sensing firms are urging Congress to reject cuts proposed in the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget plan—a proposal that would dramatically reduce the government’s purchasing of commercial EO data.