Policy & Politics
Senate Armed Services Committee to conduct ‘paper hearings’ during pandemic
SASC is "committed to continuing congressional oversight and data collection necessary to drafting the NDAA."
Venezuela’s flagship communications satellite out of service and tumbling
Venezuela’s first and only state-owned communications satellite has been out of service since March 13 when a series of maneuvers left it tumbling in an unusable orbit.
National Space Council meeting postponed
The next meeting of the National Space Council, already scaled back because of the coronavirus pandemic, has been postponed, the White House announced March 21.
DoD memo: Suppliers of critical products and services must stay on the job during pandemic
Ellen Lord memo: “If you work in a critical infrastructure industry you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule."
Argentine operator Arsat revives plans for third satellite
Martin Fabris, Arsat’s space division manager, said by email March 18 that the contract signing will likely take about a month to close, partly because of the coronavirus pandemic, during which about 80% of Arsat employees are working remotely.
Arianespace suspends French Guiana launches amid coronavirus response
Arianespace paused launch activity from Europe’s South American spaceport March 16 following the French government’s announcement that non-essential activities should be limited in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.
Space in the time of the coronavirus
Satellite 2020 was forced to end early but at least the conference took place. By the end of the week, the industry’s biggest event, the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs scheduled for the end of March, bowed to the inevitable and announced it would be postponed to a date yet to be determined.
Acquisition in state of confusion: Questions loom on the role of the Space Development Agency
The U.S. Space Force is just beginning to organize as a new branch of the armed forces and its leaders face a daunting to-do list. High on that list is figuring out the management of space acquisitions.
Foust Forward | The sound and fury over a NASA authorization bill
When the bipartisan leadership of the House Science Committee introduced a NASA authorization bill Jan. 24, it surprised many people in the civil space community.
Op-ed | H.R. 5666 will launch the U.S. in the wrong direction
In his Feb. 3 SpaceNews opinion piece, Louis Friedman argues that the NASA authorization bill that recently cleared a House space subcommittee is best direction for America in space. The bill, H.R. 5666, would require the United States to abandon the moon after a flags and footprints lunar landing (while effectively preventing commercial firms from participating). We could not disagree more.
FCC’s $9.7 billion C-band incentive hinging on Intelsat and SES participation
WASHINGTON — The FCC says it will scrap a $9.7 billion spectrum clearing incentive package approved last week if Intelsat and SES don’t both agree to the terms.
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WFIRST, proposed for cancellation, is approved for development
NASA has approved a major astrophysics mission to go into the next phase of its development even as the administration seeks once again to cancel it.
House Science Committee prepares to take up NASA authorization bill
The full House Science Committee will likely take up a NASA authorization bill later this month that a key member says will incorporate some changes to the original bill, but likely retain major provisions directing NASA’s human space exploration program.
FCC approves $9.7 billion package to speed C-band clearing
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Feb. 28 voted to auction a large portion of C-band in December under a plan that includes $9.7 billion in incentives to expedite relocating satellite operators out of the spectrum to make way for high-speed 5G networks.
Cruz skeptical about prospects for NASA appropriations or other legislation
The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee’s space subcommittee expressed doubts any space-related legislation, or even spending bills, can make it through Congress this year.
Telesat sides with SES against Intelsat’s request for more C-band money
Telesat and SES are urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to reject Intelsat’s request for a larger share of the $9.7 billion in incentive payments the FCC plans to offer satellite operators to hasten the clearing of C-band spectrum the United States wants to repurpose for 5G cellular networks.
