Opinion
Opinion section includes op-eds, columns, commentaries and editorials on all things related to the global space business enterprise.
Op-ed | A space-based survey, not luck, must be our plan against hazardous asteroids
Luck is not a plan. Yet up to now Congressional appropriators and senior NASA officials are mostly relying on luck to keep us safe from catastrophic fatalities resulting from the surprise impact of an unseen asteroid.
Europa or Enceladus? If NASA switches from SLS to Falcon Heavy, it won’t have to choose
Switching from SLS to the Falcon Heavy may cause some trade-offs in designing both the Europa Clipper and the Europa Lander to fit the smaller rocket. However, the cost savings could be plowed into an Enceladus orbiter.
Foust Forward | The moon bounces back
At this year's just-concluded International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, human Mars exploration was eclipsed by discussions about going back to the moon.
Op-ed | Commercial space startups should be wary of some foreign investment
It should be no surprise that space startups are aggressively pursued by global investors. Properly valuing potential foreign investments requires parsing more than exchange rates.
Op-ed | Toward a robust space economy
It is evident we need to examine how to build a robust space economy and infrastructure, one built to accommodate future growth.
Op-ed | Military satcom evolving to meet resiliency requirements
As the military sometimes must operate in contested environments, they will need more resilient communications system to overcome any intentional interference.
Foust Forward | Putting a price on the search for life beyond Earth
How much is it worth to answer one of humanity’s biggest questions? That’s a topic that astrophysicists, NASA and Congress will have to grapple with in the next few years.
On National Security | Momentum building for change in space acquisitions
One of the running themes in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act is Congress trying to light a fire under the Defense Department with regard to technological innovation.
Foust Forward | Waking up NASA’s Mars exploration program
Mars exploration advocates have been waiting and hoping as well, concerned about a potential hibernation of NASA’s overall Mars exploration program.
The FSS sector and the LEO-GEO stalemate
Is the industry jumping the gun and prematurely dismissing investment in geostationary satellites? There are a lot of LEO constellations ready to compete with GEO satellites in the media; there are far fewer of them in the factories, much less in orbit.
Pompeo and Mattis should add space cooperation to the U.S.-India strategic partnership
The U.S.-India strategic partnership may become the most important relationship of the century. Space cooperation will contribute to the relationship’s long-term success.
Extended: SpaceNews Awards reader nominations close Sept. 30
The 2nd annual SpaceNews Awards for Excellence & Innovation honor excellence and innovation among space professionals, companies, programs and organizations during the previous 12 months.
Mars and the moon: not an either/or proposition
The moon may be a much-needed pit stop for a very long journey to Mars.
Op-ed | Space Traffic Management: implementation and enforcement
The implementation and enforcement of space traffic management (STM) policies and regulations will be extremely complex and expensive for governments of spacefaring nations and all users of the near-Earth space domain.
Rescind the proposed budget cut for launching DARPA’s RSGS robotic servicing spacecraft
The need to use these spacecraft also as bodyguards is the strongest reason to rescind the Senate's proposed budget cut for launching our first robotic servicing spacecraft. Any delay in its launch would greatly increase the chance of a space Pearl Harbor.
Growing U.S. satellite vulnerability: The silent ‘Apocalypse Next’
The United States needs to accelerate development of its own robust defensive satellites and clarify its rights to protect its key space systems.
