Polaris
Stories from Payload’s weekly space policy newsletter, Polaris.
Dems Slam Trump Admin For Implementing NASA Budget Without Congress’ OK
Whistleblowers told Congress that they’re already worried about the cuts affecting the safety of the agency’s programs, with one telling lawmakers that they are “very concerned that we’re going to see an astronaut death within a few years,” according to the report.
Industry Groups Call for Change to Spectrum Sharing Limits
In a letter sent to FCC Chair Brendan Carr on Monday, the writers said lifting equivalent power-flux density (EPFD) limits on non-geostationary sats would benefit both consumers and the industry.
House Bill Introduced to Boost In-Orbit Cooperation for Quad States
A space bill being considered by Congress is directing the defense secretary to look for opportunities to collaborate in orbit with Indo-Pacific allies.
Lawmakers Will Debate Space Amendments to NDAA
House lawmakers submitted 1,100+ amendments to the NDAA. The rules committee met yesterday to decide which ones will be considered on the floor this week. Here’s what’s in, and what’s out.
Scientists Call For New Agency to Promote, Oversee Space
The Federation of American Scientists recommended that the Space Promotion and Regulatory Agency should be formed by merging the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce.
A Policy Proposal For Happy Hour in Orbit
“This is not to squash anyone’s dreams. This is to say you can’t just go up there and use lead pipes to make bathtub gin.”
Organizations Band Together to Save NASA Science
The organizations’ plan is to educate members of Congress on the importance of NASA science, and the wide-ranging benefits the agency provides to the whole country.
A Q&A with Rep. Grace Meng
“I haven’t even spoken to Acting Administrator Sean Duffy,” she said. “I don’t know when a new [permanent] administrator will potentially be confirmed. There are a lot of unknowns, so absolutely we are so nervous.”
Smithsonian Opens New ‘Futures in Space’ Hall
Monuments to the commercial space age are getting a new home at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, just around the corner from historic relics of government-driven space success, like the Mercury Friendship 7 capsule that carried John Glenn to orbit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
