Polaris
Stories from Payload’s weekly space policy newsletter, Polaris.
Lawmakers Revive Planetary Science Caucus
The Planetary Science Caucus is back from the dead, and the revival of the group couldn’t come at a more critical time for scientific pursuits in the cosmos that often find themselves in the budgetary crosshairs.
FAA Space Chief Talks Mission Authorization, Part 450, Starship
The clock is ticking to get a legislative fix for mission authorization approved, according to Kelvin Coleman, the FAA’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation.
Russia Pursues New ASAT Capability Amid Declining Space Program
The news of Russia pursuing a new ASAT capability comes nearly two years after its invasion of Ukraine, which sparked international sanctions that harmed the nation’s economy and placed a strain on its once-great space program.
The State of National Security Space Policy 2024
It’s time for the four-year-old Space Force to move out of the establishment phase and work through what it really means to conduct military operations in orbit, including translating 30,000-foot doctrine to the tactical level, according to two former defense officials.
The State of Civil Space Policy 2024
If the past few years have been about growth and planning in the space community, 2024 is the year of regulation and execution, according to some leading space experts.
Space Force Earns a ‘Marginal’ Grade From Heritage Foundation
The Space Force is not currently able to offer troops the real-time operational intelligence from space that would be required during a potential conflict conflict with an adversary like China, according to a report from the Heritage Foundation.
A Government Roadmap to Support CLDs
The government needs to consider regulations for commercial space stations as the private sector prepares to take the reins from the ISS, according to a report from the Beyond Earth Institute.
The Future of CRSRA With Its New Director
The commercial remote sensing industry is showing no signs of slowing down, and the new head of the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs division wants to make sure the government can keep up.
Which Space Lawmakers Are Hitting the Campaign Trail in 2024
10 of the 33 senators up for election this year serve on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, including three in prominent roles for space policy.
Lawmakers Share Their 2024 Space To-Do List
Welcome to 2024, the year in which a bitterly divided Congress will try to legislate as lawmakers also take time away to campaign ahead of the election.
2023 Recap: Biden Admin’s International Outreach in Orbit
The National Space Council is meeting tomorrow to discuss international partnerships in orbit, so today we’re taking a look back at how the Biden administration has worked with allies in space so far this year.
Launch Costs, SSA, and Threat Sharing: FY24 NDAA Highlights
After weeks of negotiation, Congress unveiled its compromise defense authorization bill for fiscal 2024 last week, with the wide-ranging conference report weighing in at 3,000+ pages.
Report Considers Commercial Reinforcements For DoD
What would it look like for the Defense Department to be able to lean on the commercial space community in times of need? That’s the question examined by a new report from the RAND Corporation released last week.