ESA Watch: Setting the Stage for November
This week, ESA member states declared that they will carry on with their ambitious space science and exploration plans—with or without the US.
Policy
Stories about space regulations and policy, and what they mean for companies.
Dems Worry Golden Dome Will Launch Arms Race
“If we’re going to put something up in the sky for $500 billion and it just starts an arms race and then it doesn’t work because they can get around it, then that’s a massive waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Commercial Space Federation Launches Supply Chain Council
What do penguins and US space industry suppliers have in common? It’s safer for both to travel in packs.
Trump Ditches Isaacman Amid Record NASA Cuts
“They always say [NASA budgets are] dead on arrival—this is extra dead.”
Dark Sky Advocates Fight Against a Bright Future
Advocates for dark and quiet skies are outgunned.
Payload Talks NASA Budget With Rep. George Whitesides
“The United States is leading the world in space technology, and we can’t give that up.”
Op-Ed: Democrats Have Ceded Leadership on Space Policy
A quick glance at space-related bills introduced last Congress tells a clear story: Democrats led space legislation 30% less often than Republicans.
The Eternal Return of the National Space Council?
Our favorite interagency coordinating body is set to rise again.
Trump’s “Skinny” Space Budget Winners and Losers
Our guide to the people, companies and concepts that stand to gain, and those that are in trouble.
NASA’s FY26 Plan Would Cut Gateway, Phase Out SLS, Orion
The Trump administration’s proposed budget for NASA focuses on beating China back to the Moon and sending the first humans to Mars at the expense of every other part of the space agency’s budget.
Isaacman Pays The Moon Price, Heads For Senate Floor
Sen. Ted Cruz made clear he was voting “yes” because of Isaacman’s commitment to prioritize the Moon.
Iridium Is Fighting Starlink and Trump’s Tariffs
Despite beating market expectations with first quarter revenue growth of 5% year-on-year, Iridium’s stock fell nearly 7% in the face of competition and trade wars.