Space Policy Directive 2

FAA to extend comment period again for revised launch licensing rules
The FAA plans to further extend the public comment period for a proposed revision of commercial launch and reentry regulations that’s faced significant industry criticism.

Op-Ed | Commercial space activities offer boundless opportunities
Fifty years ago this summer, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took the first steps on the moon. Their “giant leap for mankind” was a venture that could only be accomplished with the might and funding of the U.S. government.

Industry seeks more time to review revised commercial launch regulations
Dissatisfied with the length and content of proposed rules to streamline commercial launch and reentry regulations, industry officials say they will ask for an extension of an ongoing public review period for those rules.

Lagging progress on commercial space policy
Proponents say they’re committed to pressing ahead with the reforms and reorganizations promised last year, but some worry that a window of opportunity could be closing.

Industry concerned about fast pace of commercial launch regulatory reform
FAA officials said Oct. 31 that they’re on schedule to release a draft rule reforming commercial launch regulations, although some in industry are concerned that the work is going too quickly.

Revised remote sensing regulatory rule nears release
The Commerce Department plans to soon release a new rule designed to streamline licensing of commercial remote sensing systems with what one official called a “fundamentally different” approach for licensing.

Op-ed | We’ll need more than Trump’s Space Policy Directive to fix commercial remote-sensing regulations
At the rate the commercial sector is innovating, regulatory practices will need to be agile, evolving quickly while still providing needed order and protections.

Op-ed | Regulatory reform is not a one-off event
The American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act takes a number of important steps to provide regulatory certainty for emerging commercial space applications; and to implement the United States’ international obligation to provide authorization and supervision for its private sector actors.

Commerce Department moves ahead with space regulatory reforms
Nearly a month after the signing of a policy directive calling for commercial space regulatory reforms, Commerce Department officials said this week they’re moving ahead on a number of fronts.

Foust Forward | For commercial space, fewer-stop, not one-stop, shopping
For an administration that likes to play up even the smallest space policy milestone, the signing of Space Policy Directive 2 on May 24 almost flew under the radar.

Op-ed | The next space age
Outer space is the last frontier of human exploration. Unfortunately, the glory days of landing men on the moon are now a distant memory. So too are the memories of watching space shuttles rumble to life and roar to space fading away. That is poised to change and America is ready to lead the way.