U.S. Space Laws, Policies and Regulations
U.S. Space Executive Orders
Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team
U.S. space activities and priorities are established, in part, through Presidential Executive Orders (EOs).
Executive Orders
A 2019 meeting of the National Space Council, revived through Executive Order. Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Coordinating Efforts to Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events (2016)
Establishes U.S. policy to prepare for space weather events to minimize the potential impact on the economy and society.
Reviving the National Space Council (2017)
The National Space Council stopped operating in 1993. The executive order revives the Council and articulates its duties related to advising and assisting the President on space policy and strategy.
The Establishment of the United States Space Command (2018)
Establishes a U.S. Space Command as a functional Unified Combatant Command with general responsibilities of a Unified Combatant Command, space-related responsibilities previously assigned to U.S. Strategic Command, and responsibilities of Joint Force Provider and Joint Force Trainer for Space Operations Forces.
Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses (2019)
Directs the Federal government to develop “sustainable, efficient and cost-effective approaches” to building national resilience to the impact from an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), including those caused by solar eruptions.
Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources (2020)
Establishes U.S. policy to encourage international support for the public and private recovery and use of resources in outer space. It notes that the United States has not signed nor ratified the UN Moon Agreement, and Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery and use of space resources.
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