International Affairs
Biweekly Washington D.C. Updates for the Week Ending on March 21, 2025
Written by: Molly Prochaska
United States Space Policy Updates
- As part of the full-year continuing resolution spending bill passed by congress, the United States Space Force (USSF) has an allocated $28.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2025, less than its $29.5 billion budget request. (SpaceNews, March 20)
- The USSF released its ‘Data and Artificial Intelligence FY 2025 Strategic Action Plan,’ focused on developing ‘a more data-driven and AI-enabled force.’ (Space Force, March 19)
- NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission successfully splashed down, returning astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station. (NASA, March 18)
- NASA received a one-week extension to produce a plan to reorganize and reduce its workforce, as part of the White House’s Workforce Optimization Initiative. (SpaceNews, March 17)
- The confirmation hearing for Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was held. (Congress.gov, March 14)
- Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the Space Guard Establishment Act. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO). (Senator Mike Crapo, March 12)
- Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy has signed off on an acquisition decision memorandum instructing Space Systems Command to review legacy programs for possible commercial shifts. (Breaking Defense, March 11)
- NASA announced the closure of the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS), the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Branch of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. (SpaceNews, March 10)
International Space Policy Updates
- The European Space Agency (ESA) released its Strategy 2040, which emphasizes climate change mitigation, science missions, and European autonomy and competitiveness. (ESA, March 20)
- Former ISRO chairman S Somanath has been appointed as Space Technology Advisor for the state of Andhra Pradesh. (India Today, March 20)
- The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has created an internal Mars Task Force in response to growing interest in Mars exploration. (ChosunBiz, March 17)
- The United Kingdom (UK) House of Lords Committee on UK Engagement with Space has published a call for evidence in its inquiry to consider UK policies relating to space. (UK Parliament, March 14)
- The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute and Axiom Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ‘enhance Ghana’s space ecosystem and promote global access to space.’ (Axiom Space, March 13)
- The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has opened the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission to international cooperation. (SpaceNews, March 12)
- Grzegorz Wrochna has been dismissed from his position as President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). (Polanddaily24, March 11)
- The Saudi Space Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) to enhance cooperation in space-related fields. (Saudi Space Agency, March 10)
Space Industry Updates
- Steve Stich, NASA commercial crew program manager, has stated that NASA is examining options for another test flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle. (SpaceNews, March 20)
- SES has announced plans to reduce its board to nine members and has proposed the appointments of Ellen Lord, former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and John Shaw, former Deputy Commander of the U.S. Space Force and Commander of the Space Operations Command and Combined Forces Space Component Command, as Directors. (SpaceNews, March 17)
- In an interview with SpaceNews, Michelle Parker, Boeing Space Mission Systems Vice President, stated that Boeing is ‘investing heavily in the area’ of space. (SpaceNews, March 11).
- Rocket Lab has announced its intention to acquire Mynaric to further develop laser communication capabilities. (Rocket Lab, March 11)
- Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is now CEO of Relativity Space. (Aviation Week, March 11)
- Voyager Technologies and Palantir Technologies have announced a partnership to develop AI capabilities for enhanced Space Domain Awareness. (PR Newswire, March 10)
- Fleet Space Technologies has announced the construction of its global headquarters and hyper factory, located at the Adelaide Airport. (Fleet Space, March 6)
Reading Corner
NASA | Moon Mascot: NASA Artemis II ZGI Design Challenge
NASA is soliciting creatives around the world to submit designs for the Artemis II Mission’s zero gravity indicator (ZGI). The ZGI is an original stuffed toy, used in space travel to provide a visual indicator for when the spacecraft has reached microgravity. Prizes will be awarded for four categories: Adults: Individuals, Teams, and Entities; K-5 and 6-8 Classrooms; K-8 Individuals; and 9-12 Grades Classrooms and Individuals. The winning design will join the Artemis II crew in their flight around the moon.