Policy

Planetary Sunshade Foundation Brings its Message to DC

Advocates for placing a sunshade in space to address global warming were in DC last week educating officials on Capitol Hill and beyond about the benefits of the technology.

ISSLEOPolicy

Lawmakers Ask NASA About Risk of Post-ISS Gap

Congress marked up a NASA 2024 Reauthorization Bill Addressing a Post-ISS Gap.

InternationalPolicyThe State of the Japanese Space Industry

Japan Looks to Bolster its Space Sector for a Post-ISS World

The government will dole out investments from a new ¥1T( $6.2B) fund over the next ten years to back private efforts.

Policy

House Unveils $25.2B NASA Funding Proposal

The topline budget included in the draft bill from the House Appropriations Committee would give the agency $303.6M more than it received in fiscal 2024. 

Policy

Take Me Out To the (Space)Ball Game

At Thursday afternoon’s Washington Nationals baseball game, the outs were out of this world and the umpires struck back. 

BusinessPolicy

The US Wants to CHIP In On Rocket Lab’s Solar Cell Factory

Rocket Lab is one of three major players in the Western market that builds space-grade solar panels, and the investment will grow production 50% in the next three years.

Policy

FCC Chair Pushes For Stricter Debris Rules

The head of the FCC is calling on the agency to change its regulations to further limit how much debris is created in orbit.

MilitaryPolicy

NSSA: Space Force Budget ‘Insufficient’ And ‘Shortsighted’

The Pentagon’s declining budget request for the Space Force puts the US at risk of ceding leadership in space to China, according to a letter released Thursday by the National Security Space Association.

Policy

NASA Stresses Responsible Use of AI In Town Hall

NASA leadership touted the benefits of using AI in a town hall meeting on Wednesday, but emphasized that the new tech will be used in a responsible way that won’t replace the space agency’s skilled workforce.

MilitaryPolicy

NDAA 2025: Guard Transfers, CASR, and Commercial Ops

The House’s draft of the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act would move forward with a hotly-contested plan to transfer space-focused Air National Guard members to the Space Force. 

InternationalPolicy

International Partnerships Complicate Space Registry, State Says

The US needs to communicate better with both the private sector and international partners about objects in orbit as space becomes more global, a State Department official said Thursday.

Policy

Inside The World’s First Civil Space Traffic Coordination System

NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce is pushing to stand up TraCSS by the end of the year.

LaunchPolicy

Biden Considers Taxes on Commercial Launchers

As the pace of space launch picks up, the Biden administration is reportedly looking at requiring space companies to pay taxes to help pay for the system that keeps their rockets safe.