International Affairs
Washington Updates: Lunar Base Building
Written by: Jeff Gardner
What You Need to Know:
- NASA calls for proposals for lunar surface technologies.
- The U.K. releases a new space strategy prioritizing defense.
- Stoke Space raises $1B in a Series E funding round.
A rendering of technologies on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA
United States Space Policy Updates
- NASA calls for proposals to accelerate lunar surface technologies to help establish a Moon Base. The agency is seeking to develop and mature the following technologies: vertical solar arrays, oxygen from regolith production, nuclear energy technology, in-space manufacturing, and nanomaterials production. (NASA, Sept. 8)
- Congress avoids a government shutdown ahead of midterms. The temporary budget bill will keep key space programs running, including NASA’s planned 2027 Artemis III mission. (Space Foundation, Sept. 1)
- Gen. Douglas Schiess is sworn in as Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations. (USSF, Sept. 3)
- NASA expands its Deep Space Network with a new dish. (Space.com, Sept. 6)
- NASA is planning to create a new office that may buy launches in blocks. (SpaceNews, Sept. 2)
International Space Policy Updates
- The UK releases a new Space Strategy prioritizing defense, national security and economic growth. Parliament back the new strategy with more than $10 billion in funding through 2030. The new strategy describes space as “a site of growing competition, and a domain that is central to defense.” (Gov.UK, Sept. 8)
- Isar Aerospace achieves first launch to orbit from continental Europe (ESA, Sept. 5)
- The first European Launcher Challenge contracts are released. (ESA, Aug. 27)
- The UK government will invest $40 million into the SaxaVord Spaceport. (BBC, Sept. 8)
- The Canadian Space Agency is seeking industry input on infrastructure tech for future Moon missions. (SpaceQ, Sept. 3)
Space Industry Updates
- Stoke Space raises $1 billion in an initial Series E funding round. The money will help scale manufacturing and testing of the company’s Nova Pathfinder rocket. This latest funding round brings the company’s total capital to $2.3 billion. (Payload, Sept. 8)
- Eclipse Space unveils three new satellite platforms. (Yahoo, Sept. 9)
- Europe’s top mobile carriers are discussing a direct-to-device service in competition with Starlink. (Bloomberg, Sept. 7)
- Satellogic names former National Geospatial Intelligence Agency director Frank Whitworth as president. (Space News, Sept. 8)
- Pixxel raises $100 million in Series C funding. (Pixxel, Sept. 7)
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