International Affairs

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…

United States Space Policy Updates The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing to examine spectrum auction delays. (Congress.gov, February 19) The House Science Space and Technology Committee (HSST) Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee has announced a hearing set for February 26, entitled ‘Step by Step: The Artemis Program and NASA’s Path to Human…

This Week in Washington The House Science Space and Technology Committee announced the subcommittee chairs and ranking members for the 119th Congress. The House Science Space and Technology Committee held a full committee hearing entitled ‘The State of U.S. Science and Technology: Ensuring U.S. Global Leadership.’ The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Science…

This Week in Washington Janet Petro has been appointed to serve as Acting NASA Administrator Troy Meink has been appointed to serve as Secretary of the Air Force. Finland has become the 53rd Artemis Accords signatory. United States Space Policy Updates The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) voted unanimously to advance Sean Duffy, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of…

This Week in Washington NASA has revised the launch dates for the Artemis missions, with Artemis II now set for April 2026 and Artemis III scheduled for mid-2027. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Brendan Carr as the new chairman of the FCC. United…

This Week in Washington Denmark has become the 48th signatory of the Artemis Accords. SpaceX’s sixth Starship flight test is set for Monday, November 18. The FAA has established an Aerospace Rulemaking Committee for Part 450. United States Space Policy Updates The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched its Aerospace Rulemaking Committee to revise the FAA’s Part…

This Week in Washington Chile and the Republic of Cyprus have officially joined the Artemis Accords as the 46th and 47th signatories The government of Thailand has approved the country’s participation in the Artemis Accords. NASA has released its “NASA Economic Impact Study 2023,” estimating the agency’s annual economic output at $75.6 billion. United States…

This Week in Washington The Dominican Republic and Estonia have officially joined the Artemis Accords as the 44th and 45th signatories. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is participating in an official visit to Romania and Bulgaria to meet with key government and space officials. SpaceX completed the fifth test flight of its Starship rocket, successfully “catching”…