Polaris
Stories from Payload’s weekly space policy newsletter, Polaris.
Payload Field Guide: NSSL
The Space Force added two new companies to its stable of launchers on July 8, bringing the military’s launch acquisition program to seven companies.
FCC Poised To Advance Sat Licensing Reform
FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced last week that the commission is expected to vote on the Space Modernization Order on July 22.
NASA Watchdog: Launch Infrastructure Nearing Capacity
NASA’s launch facilities will likely reach capacity by the end of the decade as the number of commercial launches continues to skyrocket, according to a report from the space agency’s inspector general released Monday.
Bill Spotlight: NEW HORIZON Act
A bipartisan pair of senators introduced a bill last week that would consider allowing national security missions to tap into the commercial orbital data center craze.
FCC Gives Amazon Leo More Time to Launch
The FCC has granted Amazon Leo more time to get at least half of its constellation into orbit, but placed some restrictions on the satellite operator to encourage launching as quickly as possible.
NDAA Would Cut SDA, RCO Offices
The House’s annual defense authorization bill would eliminate the two offices within the Pentagon designed to speed up space acquisition.
CSF Forecasts Launch Supply Running Low
Depending on which scenario comes to fruition, the report predicts the space community will want to launch between 6,000 and 230,000 sats per year—requiring up to 7,000 launches annually, according to a release.
NASA’s Launch Director Pick Turns Political
Brian Hughes, who will serve as NASA’s first senior launch operations director, was the space agency’s chief of staff from May to December, departing the agency once Administrator Jared Isaacman took over.
Commerce Aiming to Open Novel Space Applications This Summer
In March, the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) unveiled its plan to serve as a one-stop shop for licensing novel space missions.
Dems Slam Trump Over NSF Board Cuts
“This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said in a statement.
Payload Field Guide: Golden Dome
When Golden Dome was first announced (under a different moniker) in January 2025, companies immediately got to work, positioning themselves to compete for the ambitious missile defense program aiming to protect the US.
CLD Companies Say NASA Is Wrong. NASA Says Prove It.
“I’m not surprised that CLD providers didn’t like what we had to say,” Isaacman told Payload on the sidelines of the Space Symposium. “So, prove we got it wrong.”
