Polaris
Stories from Payload’s weekly space policy newsletter, Polaris.
Preserving History On the Moon—and Beyond
Surrounded by the relics of space exploration, officials met at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center last week to discuss how to preserve the history of humankind’s farthest incursions into the cosmos 239,000 miles away.
Meet Lithuania, the 40th Artemis Accords Signatory
“For us, it’s very important to become a part of international cooperation platforms and international initiatives,” Neringa Morozaitė-Rasmussen, Lithuania’s vice-minister of the economy and innovation, told Payload. “We see it as an important agreement that…emphasizes peaceful exploration, which is the essence for us.”
Lawmakers Agree To Investigate Russian ASAT Intel Leak
The rare public back-and-forth between Congress and the White House that led to the reveal of Russia’s nuclear ASAT plans is getting a review under an amendment to the NDAA introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA).
Space Authorization, Approps Bills Before Congress This Week
It’s a big week on Capitol Hill this week for considering fiscal 2025 funding and priorities in the space realm.
An Exit Interview with DoD Space Policy Chief John Plumb
As the Pentagon’s space policy chief John Plumb prepares to leave office, his departing message is simple: don’t destroy space.
Russia Defends Veto of Nuclear Weapon Ban in Orbit at UN
Russia went toe to toe with the rest of the world on Monday at the UN General Assembly, where officials overwhelmingly condemned Moscow’s veto last month of a measure reaffirming that nuclear weapons would not be placed in orbit.
Solid US Space Mining Regs Could Attract Investors, VC Predicts
Mining in orbit is getting closer to becoming a reality and, with business prospects protected by policy—at least in the US—one investor is predicting the dollars will start rolling in.
DC Eyes Beijing’s Investments In Space
Lawmakers across Capitol Hill raised concerns last week that China is gaining on the US in orbit in both the civil and national security sectors.
SpaceWERX Shares Tools to Help Industry Reach Phase III
SpaceWERX is looking at how to get companies out of the so-called “valley of death” by launching new programs to help companies make the leap from innovative demo missions to big-dollar programs of record.
UN Space Chief Urged Japan to Share Debris Removal Expertise
The UN’s space chief has some advice for Japan: be bolder.
Jamming, Spoofing, and Spying, Oh My!
The Secure World Foundation released its annual update of global counterspace capabilities today, and we dug through it for some of the most significant updates from its 2023 version.
A National Security Space Acquisition Primer
The web of offices intended to bring innovative space tech into the national security sector just got a whole lot less confusing.
A Tale of Two Mission Authorization Plans
Senior officials from the administration and Capitol Hill defended dueling plans to regulate novel space activities at Payload’s Space Capitol III event on Monday night.
