FAA
Aireon partner invests $69 million in space-based aircraft tracking system
Aireon raised $69 million from a British partner, enabling the aircraft-tracking startup to begin making hosting payments to Iridium Communications.
FAA reauthorization bill boosts commercial space office
A reauthorization bill for the FAA passed by the House April 27 includes several provisions intended to support its commercial spaceflight activities, including a major increase in authorized spending levels.
Leidos bests Raytheon for FAA hosted payload contract
Defense and IT company Leidos triumphed over competitor Raytheon this week in a competition to build a hosted payload for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for honing GPS signals.
House committee advances two space bills
The House Science Committee favorably reported bills March 22 that would recognize a NASA center as a center of excellence in rocket propulsion and would resolve a commercial space regulatory issue.
Omnibus bill increases funding for NOAA weather satellite and space weather programs
A final fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill released March 21 fully funds two key weather satellite programs at NOAA while increasing funding for future weather satellites and space weather efforts.
Head of FAA commercial space office to retire
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, George Nield, will retire in March after nearly a decade in the job.
Regulatory reform to be a topic of next National Space Council meeting
When members of the National Space Council meet this week, they are expected to discuss, among other issues, regulatory reforms intended to promote growth of the commercial spaceflight industry.
SpaceX receives launch license for first Falcon Heavy launch
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a launch license for the inaugural launch of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, scheduled for Feb. 6.
FAA offers National Space Council ideas for launch licensing reforms
The Federal Aviation Administration submitted to the National Space Council a set of regulatory reforms that one official said would create a “21st century licensing process” for commercial spaceflight.
FAA prepares guidance for wave of 3D-printed aerospace parts
“Three to four years ago, none of my peers believed we would see additive manufacturing of safety-critical parts,” the FAA’s chief scientific and technical adviser for fatigue and damage tolerance said Oct. 19 at the Additive Aerospace conference in Los Angeles.
Industry and government differ on future of FAA commercial space office
While much of industry would like to see an office that licenses commercial spaceflight activities moved out of the Federal Aviation Administration, a new report finds little support for doing so within government itself.
Trump administration tees up National Space Council to offer cohesive strategy, former insider says
The Trump administration has identified representatives of the various government agencies who will serve on the National Space Council, which is likely to hold its first meeting “very, very shortly,” Greg Autry, the administration’s former NASA liaison, said Aug. 30.
Senate restores funding for NASA Earth science and satellite servicing programs
An appropriations bill approved by a Senate committee July 27 would restore funding for several NASA Earth science missions slated for termination by the administration as well as a satellite servicing program.
House offers increase to FAA commercial space office
A spending bill to be marked up by House appropriators July 11 would provide a significant increase to the office responsible for licensing commercial launches, counteracting a planned cut.
Arianespace Soyuz orbits SES-15 carrying FAA hosted payload
Arianespace launched a Soyuz rocket May 18 from Europe’s space center in French Guiana, carrying the electrically propelled SES-15 satellite to geostationary transfer orbit.
More than just fixing the rules: regulating for innovation
A variety of new space technologies are emerging in the U.S. space industry, and policymakers should look for ways to facilitate this innovation and make these technologies more accessible to civil, commercial, and military space customers.
Bridenstine calls on appropriators to fund milspace programs, FAA space office
Congressman Jim Bridenstine, among the leading candidates to be the next NASA administrator, called upon his fellow lawmakers Thursday to support the Pentagon as it adapts to a radically shifting landscape in orbit.
Time for Defense Department to relinquish reigns on SSA, Pentagon expert says
The ever growing number of satellites means a new organization is needed to catalog and track objects in orbit for the commercial space sector, experts said March 7.
FAA commercial space office faces budget squeeze
The FAA’s commercial space office is worried that an anticipated budget increase this year, intended to allow it to hire more staff to keep up with a growing industry, may not be enacted.
Report recommends civil agency for space traffic management
A report prepared for Congress recommends giving a civil agency responsibility for space traffic management work, but stops short of recommending which agency should take on the job.
