Policy & Politics
ISS partnership feeling some effects of sanctions on Russia
While operations of the International Space Station continue without “serious interruptions,” sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine are starting to have an effect on some activities, NASA’s safety advisers said.
Op-ed | U.S. Antisatellite Test Ban Reveals a New Approach for Security and Sustainability in Space
Vice President Harris’s ASAT test ban, specifically designed to address the concerns of hawks and doves alike, suggests a new approach to space security and sustainability.
Op-ed | Space Safety Concerns Put Economic Growth at Risk
Rapidly growing congestion of the space environment demands heightened Executive and Legislative Branch attention to protect the astronauts aboard the International Space Station, billions of dollars of U.S. investment, and the expected growth of the space economy.
Op-ed | Herding rockets: Improved Space Traffic Management will accelerate industry growth
A market ecosystem that incentivizes the rapid development and fielding of advanced Space Traffic Management (STM) technologies will be a key enabler to the sustainable growth of the space economy.
Colombia signs Artemis Accords
Colombia signed the Artemis Accords for responsible space exploration May 10, continuing a steady stream of countries that have acceded to the agreement.
India, France agree to cooperate on secure access to outer space, space-based challenges
India and France have agreed to cooperate to tackle “contemporary challenges that have arisen in space,” including secure access to outer space.
Canada joins U.S. in ASAT testing ban
The Canadian government announced May 9 that it is joining the United States in banning tests of destructive direct-ascent antisatellite weapons as a step toward norms of responsible behavior in space.
South Korea’s new president seeks independent space agency, deeper US space cooperation
South Korea’s newly elected president Yoon Suk-yeol will take office May 10 with a set of ambitious space projects aimed at making the country a major space power by 2035.
FAA and NTSB discussing roles in commercial spaceflight investigations
Two federal agencies in a turf battle over commercial spaceflight investigations say they are now talking with each other to better define their roles and responsibilities.
Senate rejects effort to strip NASA lunar lander provision from authorization bill
Senators overwhelmingly voted against a motion May 4 that would have dealt a setback in NASA’s efforts to select a second company to develop an Artemis lunar lander.
Nelson criticizes “plague” of cost-plus NASA contracts
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson offered a surprisingly strong endorsement of fixed-price contracts and competition at a congressional hearing May 3, calling traditional cost-plus contracts a “plague” on the agency.
Space Force leaders questioned on their plans to invest in technology and workforce
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond on the Space Force’s plans to acquire next-generation technologies and develop the future workforce.
Kelly plays down Russian ASAT threat
A senator and former astronaut said he did not expect Russia to perform another test of an antisatellite weapon because of the debris that posed a risk to that country’s own satellites as well as others.
DalBello to lead Office of Space Commerce
The Commerce Department has hired a veteran of government and industry to be the next director of the Office of Space Commerce.
Op-ed | Russia’s war could spread to space; the U.S. should be prepared
The satellites on which the data for the blue dot on your phone, nearly every global financial transaction, and the effectiveness of military forces relies, are not beyond Russian reach.
U.S. ASAT ban meant to support U.N. discussions on space threats
A State Department official said the Biden administration’s announcement of a ban of one kind of ASAT weapon tests was timed to support discussions at an upcoming United Nations forum on norms of behavior in space.
