Space Policy

DoD space policy nominee highlights complex security challenges facing U.S.
John Plumb, president Biden's nominee to be assistant secretary of defense for space policy, told lawmakers that the United States has to prepare for the possibility of “conflict extending to, or originating in space.”

Biden taps Aerospace Corp.’s John Plumb to run DoD space policy
President Biden has nominated John Plumb to be assistant secretary of defense for space policy, the White House announced July 29.

Policy directive on GPS issued in closing days of Trump administration
Space Policy Directive-7 highlights the United States’ ever growing dependence on space-based positioning, navigation and timing.

Space policy advice for Biden: Tone down war rhetoric, fix military acquisitions
The Biden administration should support U.S. space activities while abandoning divisive and antagonistic rhetoric, says a new report from the Secure World Foundation.

Pentagon creates new office to oversee military space policy
DoD announced Oct. 30 it has established the office of the assistant secretary of defense for space policy.

Space experts roll out policy advice as Election Day nears
Aerospace Corp.'s policy center rolled out "Space Agenda 2021" to influence discussions in the next administration.

Foust Forward | Seeking small victories in space policy
As the House and Senate struggle with pandemic relief and other spending bills, there seems little opportunity for anything space-related to get through Congress.

White House issues cybersecurity space policy
The White House released a new space policy directive Sept. 4 intended to improve cybersecurity of space systems.

Foust Forward | Space at the table for everyone
As its first term nears its end, the Trump administration has yet to issue its own national space policy, despite a wave of more specific space policy documents on everything from space traffic management to the Space Force.

State Dept. official: ‘We need to have discussions about space’
As more actors engage in space activities, there are concerns that a competition for those resources could lead to international conflicts.

Canada doles out R&D dollars while new space strategy remains overdue
The Canadian government hopes to release its new space strategy in the coming months but in the meantime has provided $20 million in research funding for domestic space companies and universities.

Trump administration continues support of outer space norms of behavior
A former Obama administration official is optimistic that the Trump administration will continue to pursue the development of non-binding international agreements to promote norms of behavior in outer space.

New national defense strategy to shed light on Pentagon’s thinking about war in space
“What are we going to do about deterrence in space?” That is a question the administration should answer in the new strategy, said CSIS analyst Todd Harrison.

Space policy experts lay out their concerns: Will the Trump administration listen?
With commercial services becoming widely available for most space activities, this the “best opportunity in a generation” for the government to decide how to work with the private sector.

In the face of growing threats, Army scrambles to secure satellite links
A vulnerable satellite infrastructure has sent Army officials scrambling in search of solutions.

What a Trump administration means for space
A space policy of the administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to focus more on human spaceflight, technology development and commercialization, and less on Earth science.

EU draft space policy calls for more military involvement
A draft summary of the European Commission’s space policy raises the issue of retooling Europe’s Galileo navigation and Copernicus Earth observation programs to make them more attractive to Europe’s military forces and whether Europe’s spaceport in South America should receive commission financing.

Bridenstine pleased by progress on space policy bill
Nearly two months after introducing a comprehensive space policy bill, Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) says he’s made good progress getting provisions of that bill included into defense authorization and other legislation.

Organizations offer space policy white paper to U.S. presidential candidates
A coalition of space organizations released a white paper for presidential and other candidates March 4 calling for stability and continuity in space policy.

Draft bill proposes wide-ranging space policy changes
A draft version of a comprehensive space policy bill seeks to make changes to management and regulation of space activities at NASA, the Defense Department, and other federal agencies while pushing the government to rely more on commercial capabilities.