U.S.

South Korea “welcomes” U.S. moratorium on anti-satellite missile tests; China skeptical
South Korea “welcomed” America’s self-imposed ban on direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile tests that create orbital debris.

Op-ed | China’s Success in Space Calls for Caution in Pursuing a New Treaty for Outer Space
Any decision by the U.S. to pursue a new treaty for outer space should take into account whether the worldview espoused by the U.S. and its allies is solidified in international law and has the political will to prevail over attempts by China and its client states to subvert an enacted treaty.

Op-ed | China, the moon, Mars, and beyond — an opportunity for human cooperation
China this week is conducting a robotic lunar sample return mission, something the United States has never done. The mission is proceeding while a Chinese lunar rover is wrapping up its second year of service on the moon — on its far side, something also never done by the United States.

Commentary | Senate Democrats: Stand against China, protect U.S. space programs
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner argues that contracting provisions he added to a draft NASA authorization act last year would help safeguard U.S. space technology against Chinese efforts to steal it.

Op-ed | A U.S. return to the moon is about preserving the rule of law
Two recent op-eds in SpaceNews expound on a U.S. return to the moon but both miss the mark of why a U.S. return is essential: it will reinforce and preserve the rule of law.

The United States should follow France’s lead in space
Sometimes, even when you’re No. 1, it pays to follow another’s lead. A case in point is the French Government’s recent announcement to develop bodyguard spacecraft to protect its satellites against Russian and Chinese robotic spacecraft capable of rendezvous and proximity operations.

New opportunities emerging for U.S.-China space cooperation
Despite the rhetoric of a space race between the United States and China, experts say there are opportunities for the countries to expand cooperation in space that could have broader benefits.

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.

Op-ed | Australia and America: United for a New Space Age
With its economic ties to Japan and China, in addition to its bond with the British Commonwealth and the citizens of the United States, Australia is ready to co-write the next chapter of the New Space Age.

Japan Seeks To Become Full Partner with U.S. in Space
As American and Japanese officials praised the strong relationship the two countries share in civil and military space activities, one Japanese officials at a recent forum said he sought to elevate his country’s role in that partnership.

U.S. Considers Making it Easier To Launch from India
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is starting a review of a decade-old policy that discourages the use of Indian launch vehicles by American companies, an official said Oct. 20.

Op-ed | American Leadership in Space 2.0
The United States is doing more in space than ever before in ways that no other country can match, but the main driver for this new leadership is the commercial space sector, not the government.

Op-ed | We Must Be Our Own Kennedy
“We cannot wait for the next Kennedy to set us on our path to the stars,” writes Space Frontiers Foundation co-founder Rick Tumlinson. “We must be our own Kennedys, set the path ourselves and do what it takes to make it happen

Eumetsat Disputes U.S. Air Force Claim that It Reversed Itself on Indian Ocean Coverage
The head of Europe’s Eumetsat meteorological satellite organization denied a U.S. Air Force allegation that Eumetsat had reneged on a promise to maintain weather coverage over the Indian Ocean, thus forcing the Air Force to scramble to find replacement capacity.

House Appropriators Reject Budget Increase for FAA Commercial Space Office
A House appropriations subcommittee approved a spending bill for the FAA that does not include an increase for the FAA’s space office, despite repeated concerns by the office’s leadership that it lacks the resources to keep pace with growing commercial launch activity.

U.S., France Expand Space Data-sharing Agreement
U.S. Strategic Command and the French Ministry of Defense have expanded their Space Situational Awareness (SSA) data-sharing agreement to include classified information.

Op-ed | Growing U.S.-India Space Security Ties
Ensuring the long-term sustainability and security of the outer space environment is a challenge that the United States and India are uniquely situated to address together. Between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA, our two nations have done tremendous work in our exploration of outer space.

U.S. Talks Space Cooperation With United Arab Emirates
Representatives of the governments of the United States and the United Arab Emirates met to discuss potential space cooperation.

Op-ed | Align U.S. Space Policy with National Interests
International space cooperation, space commerce and international space security discussions could be used to reinforce each other in ways that would advance U.S. interests in the sustainability and security of all space activities.