Washington Updates: Competing For The Academy

What You Need to Know:  States are vying to host the proposed U.S. Space Academy. The U.K. Royal Air Force launches its first space squadron. SpaceX is preparing for its first Starship orbital launch. United States Space Policy Updates Multiple states, including Texas, Florida, and Alabama, are competing to host the planned U.S. Space Academy.…

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Space Foundation Hosts Arctic Security Forum

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dozens of embassy officials, industry experts and political advisers joined Space Foundation and leaders from the Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs (SAF/IA) office Tuesday to enhance international space cooperation among Arctic countries. Deanna Ryals, assistant deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs for Space, moderated discussion for the…

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Andøya Achieves First Orbital Launch from Europe

Europe celebrated a spaceflight milestone Sept. 5 with the first successful orbital launch conducted from the continent. Norway’s Andøya Space Center fired a Spectrum launch vehicle from Germany’s Isar Aerospace. The Spectrum released five SmallSats.  Walther Pelzer, head of the German Space Agency, called the launch a technological feat and a step toward sovereign space…

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Space Command Wraps Up Wargames to Simulate Future Orbital Fights

Three weeks of space wargames that demonstrated future national security needs wrapped up Tuesday, U.S. Space Command announced.  The Apollo Maneuvers tested the command’s plans for “maneuver warfare” in orbit. It’s a new doctrine that Space Command’s Gen. Stephen Whiting announced during Space Foundation‘s 41st Space Symposium in April. The command compared the exercise to…

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Washington Updates: New Chief of Space Operations

What You Need to Know:  The Senate confirms Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess as Chief of Space Operations. Europe agrees to expand the planned IRIS² satellite constellation. Rocket Lab unveils a deployable launch system for suborbital and orbital missions. United States Space Policy Updates The Senate confirms Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess to serve as the next Chief of Space Operations.…

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Space Foundation Partners with Victory Service Dogs to Honor Veterans This Memorial Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — May 19, 2026 — Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the global space community, today announced a new partnership with Victory Service Dogs in honor of Memorial Day. During the month of May, every $45 donation made to Space Foundation will provide an immersive science, technology, engineering, and…

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Amentum Team Brings All the LEGOs Together

Every mode of transportation brings many different pieces together if it is to go far. But what about when all the pieces come from different countries, suppliers and manufacturers? And what about when the Moon is the destination? Who puts all of it together? Meet Jason Bollinger, a third-generation space veteran who works as the…

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Biweekly Washington D.C. Updates for the Week Ending on March 7, 2025

United States Space Policy Updates Sarah Brothers has been reinstated as the head of NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) division within the Office of Space Commerce (OSC). (Breaking Defense, March 5) In his first address to a joint session of Congress of his second term, President Donald Trump has reaffirmed support for sending humans…

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Biweekly Washington D.C. Updates for the Week Ending on January 10, 2025

This Week in Washington  Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) was named Chair of the HASC Strategic Forces Subcommittee.  The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee announced new and returning members for the 119th Congress. Dr. V. Narayanan has been appointed as the Secretary of the Indian Department of Space and the Chairman of the Indian Space…

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