Stories from Payload’s weekly space policy newsletter, Polaris.
As the Space Force prepares to celebrate its fifth birthday this month—and its growth from a single Guardian to a uniformed force of nearly 10,000—Polaris chatted with Space Force Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna about how the service has changed in its half decade, and what’s next.
Let’s take a look back at the year in space policy, which included the finish lines for some initiatives—and the reopening of previously closed cases for others.
The trade association formerly known as the Commercial Spaceflight Federation is getting a new name, a concise mandate, and a way to support the politicians who support space.
The prestigious Matthew Isakowitz Foundation is pivoting in 2025 to train up the next generation of space policy professionals.
Incoming President Donald Trump has already tapped a number to lead federal departments and agencies, including a few who will have a hand in the next administration’s space policy.
“We are in a de facto Cold War, and this is something we cannot lose,” he said. “My goal is literally nothing short of space dominance.”
As you’re watching election results come in Tuesday after polls close, here are a handful of down-ballot races to watch that could have a big impact on space policy in 2025 and beyond.
The Biden administration’s legacy in space is one of global reach and using space as a soft power tool, as evidenced by its leadership on initiatives such as banning destructive ASAT testing and promoting the responsible use of space internationally through the Artemis Accords.
Launched at the tail end of the Trump administration and grown substantially during the Biden administration, the Artemis Accords have proven that there is bipartisan support for ensuring that conversations about the future of space operations are global
The next president must make space more resilient by boosting cooperation with the private sector, protecting the domestic supply chain, and increasing government investment in promising tech, according to a memo released Monday by MITRE.
Commercial EO providers contribute to sectors ranging from agriculture to climate monitoring to defense—and now they’re banding together to make sure policymakers know the results of an administration-ordered study could put all of that in jeopardy.
The space community gathered at Payload’s first Space Capitol Forum on Tuesday to talk about ways for policy to adapt and better support the rapid advancements in space tech.
