Policy
Stories about space regulations and policy, and what they mean for companies.
Office of Space Commerce ACES Committee Cut By Trump Order
“This morning, we received from the Department of Commerce a ‘stop work’ order on ACES,” according to a memo reviewed by Payload.
Op-ed: A Trump Presidency Means More Money for Space. So, What Can We Expect?
With space a focus of the new administration, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk as a senior advisor, we can expect to see money, more ambition, and fewer restrictions on private companies expanding America’s reach in LEO and beyond.
NASA Must Speed Up Decision Making to Beat China to the Moon, Experts Say
“There is not a global competition yet for Mars, so we need to take the right thing at the right time,” Dumbacher said. “The Moon first, then Mars.”
Space Advocates Seek To Protect NASA Workforce
“These public servants—many of whom are just starting their careers—represent the future of NASA.”
Lawmakers Direct GAO Review of FAA’s Part 450
“We’ve had complaints from launchers that they can’t get timely licensing for their permits to launch, so we definitely want to monitor the FAA’s progress in improving its licensing process for launch and reentry,” Babin told Payload.
New Bill Would Classify Space as Critical Infrastructure
The Space Infrastructure Act seeks to codify in statute that space assets are so vital to the nation’s economy and security that their disruption would have a debilitating impact.
Space CEOs Pitch Tech For Trump’s Push to Mars
Space CEOs outlined how their tech would help the US explore Mars amid the Trump administration’s focus on the Red Planet during remarks at the Commercial Space Conference on Wednesday in DC.
US Should Create Space ‘Hotline’ With China, CFR says
The Trump administration must engage China in orbit, opening a line for communication in case of emergencies such as deconflicting potential collisions in orbit, according to a report released Tuesday by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Congress’ Very Busy Week in Space Policy
Amid the mile-a-minute news cycle that is 2025 so far, we can’t blame you if you’ve missed some of the space action on Capitol Hill. So here are five things we’ve been watching over the past week.
How to Build the Iron Dome For America
Trump directed the US to rapidly beef up its space-based missile defense capabilities to keep pace with advancing space-based missile tech from adversaries.
US Chamber Launches Space Leadership Council
The council will work with lawmakers to help shape policy in a way that benefits the commercial sector on topics from acquisition to licensing to spectrum.
Haridopolos: NASA Should Relocate From DC
“I think that’s the best way to go where the action is as opposed to where the bureaucrats work.”
Commerce Nominee: Space Data “Fundamental” to US Leadership
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of commerce, committed to supporting the commercial space sector in his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
