Op-ed: Comms Failure is a Threat to Space Ambitions
While technical excellence abounds in the space sector, there’s a communications issue holding them back.
Opinion
Op-eds from leaders in the space community.
Op-Ed: Democrats Have Ceded Leadership on Space Policy
A quick glance at space-related bills introduced last Congress tells a clear story: Democrats led space legislation 30% less often than Republicans.
Op-ed: A Resilient Europe Means Learning from the US Model
Amid shifting global power balances and an ongoing war on European soil, it’s more important than ever for Europe to quickly address its fragmented, painfully slow, and overly cautious procurement process—or risk permanently lagging behind those who want to do it harm.
Op-ed: Let’s Get Back to Math and Physics
As industry develops and deploys its most innovative capabilities—from commercial space stations to asteroid mining missions—there is no US government entity clearly empowered to approve such commercial activities, threatening the future of US leadership in space.
Op-ed: As Satellite Collision Risks Increase, Ephemeris Sharing is Vital
As the number of satellites in LEO continues to grow exponentially, when it comes to a satellite’s location, sharing is caring.
Op-ed: A Trump Presidency Means More Money for Space. So, What Can We Expect?
With space a focus of the new administration, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk as a senior advisor, we can expect to see money, more ambition, and fewer restrictions on private companies expanding America’s reach in LEO and beyond.
Op-ed: Why Outdated Regs Are Holding Back the Nuclear Space Race
Regulators must find ways to balance safety and national security concerns surrounding nuclear systems and materials with the mandate for America to lead in space and the drive for a thriving commercial space economy, especially as nuclear technology becomes safer and less risky thanks to new advancements.
Op-ed: DoD’s Constellation Plans Need New Acquisition Strategy
The Space Force has proven the government can launch a sat on short notice—but you can’t launch what you haven’t built.
Op-Ed: NATO Must Prioritize Tracking, Info Sharing in Orbit
Real-time space domain awareness (SDA) is critical to NATO for more than just avoiding collisions and promoting safe operations.
Op-Ed: Standardized Launch, Reentry Regs Will Support a Growing Industry
The FAA’s mandate is to focus on public safety, and the long wait times are understandable, given the agency’s current method of reviewing applications. But the cadence is not sustainable if we want the industry to continue to grow.
Investment in Space Tourism is About More Than a Nice View
As space becomes a bucket list vacation destination for the rich and famous, it’s worth asking: is investing in space tourism really the best use of resources amid the very real and immediate threats in orbit?
Opinion: Space Launch Could Falter…Big Time
This opinion piece is written by Nicholas Francoeur, an active-duty officer in the US Space Force. Most recently, he was the director of LEO and GEO operations, and was previously a senior range operations commander at Cape Canaveral. These views are his own, and do not represent the views of Payload or the military. It’s […]