Polaris
Stories from Payload’s weekly space policy newsletter, Polaris.
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.
Where Does Space Fit Into NATO Funding Boost?
“I think in general allies are looking to invest more [in space] …particularly at this point at a national level,” she said. “There’s a lot of interest, primarily in commercial capabilities and accessing off-the-shelf capabilities.”
Report Proposes Fixes For The Aerospace Talent Gap
It’s time for the aerospace and defense sector to learn to do more with less.
Two New Space Bills Introduced on Capitol Hill
The legislative wheels are turning, with senators introducing two new space-focused bills last week and one NASA bill set to get marked up in the House tomorrow.
Space Force Partners on Rocketry Challenge
“It represents exactly the kind of talent and passion we want to foster,” Maj. Bryan Davis, the Space Force’s chief of marketing, told Payload in an email.
UN Releases Space Debris Primer
Decades ago, the UN was already thinking about the risks and liability concerns raised by debris falling out of orbit. Now, as falling space debris becomes a more common occurrence, the UN’s Office for Outer Space Affairs is reminding nations that it has a process for dealing with it.
Kelly Rallies Senators for NASA Science Fight
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is leading a letter asking appropriators to provide $9B for NASA’s science mission directorate.
Congress Examines NASA’s Planetary Protection Duty
NASA and academic officials will head to Capitol Hill this week to testify before Congress on what many Americans consider to be the agency’s top priority: making sure a giant asteroid whizzing through space doesn’t wipe out life on Earth.
International Partners Wrestle With Skinny Budget Fallout
The effects of the White House’s top level budget proposal are starting to ripple around the world.
House Panel Advances Three Space Bills
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved three bills on Tuesday morning designed to increase astronaut safety, tap the private sector for scientific data, and maintain US leadership for the next generation of deep space exploration.
EOs, Commercial Cooperation, and Culture: A Recap of Polaris After Dark
The Trump administration has ordered the Pentagon to speed up its defense acquisition process. That will require trained staff to quickly get new commercial tech under contract, according to Col. Richard Kniseley, the senior materiel leader of Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office.
