Washington Updates

What You Need to Know:  The FCC overhauls its satellite licensing process. The department that houses the UK Space Agency is dissolved. Amazon signals its intent to join the direct-to-device market. United States Space Policy Updates The FCC adopts an overhaul of its space and earth station. Described as a “licensing assembly line,” the new…

What You Need to Know:  The House Science, Space and Technology Committee reviews the Office of Space Commerce’s mission authorization proposal. ESA announces plans for a security center in Poland. Reditus Space completes its first reentry vehicle. United States Space Policy Updates The House Science, Space and Technology Committee holds a hearing to review the…

What You Need to Know: NASA awards lunar lander contracts to Astrobotic, Firefly, and Intuitive Machines. Japan renames its air force to the Air and Space Self-Defense Force. Rocket Lab announces plans to acquire Iridium Communications. United States Space Policy Updates NASA awards new lunar lander contracts to Firefly, Astrobotic, and Intuitive Machines for missions…

United States Space Policy Updates Joseph Pelfrey, director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center since February 2024, announced his resignation. (AL.com, September 25) Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy announced that Space Force will require its next generation of space domain awareness satellites to be able to be refueled in…

United States Space Policy Updates Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Representatives Dale Strong (R-AL), George Whitesides (D-CA), and Vince Fong (R-CA) reintroduced the Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation (SPACEPORT) Act (Senator John Hickenlooper,  September 19) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released…