Washington Updates

This week in Washington: The House Armed Services Committee passed its FY23 National Defense Authorization Act markup, which will now advance to the House floor, the Federal Aviation Administration ruled to allow SpaceX launches to proceed despite environmental concerns, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Space Launch System rocket passed its final wet dress…

This week in Washington: National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) markups called for Pentagon reports on hypersonic missile threats, NASA’s Office of the Inspector General’s released its audit on the Mobile Launcher 2 Contract, the Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded its first Tranche-1 O&I contract, and France signed the Artemis Accords. United States Space Policy Updates…

This week in Washington: The Department of Defense’s Program Integration Council (PIC) successfully coordinated five-year planning documents for space acquisition among interagency members, a Congressional conference committee met to start reconciling competitiveness bills, including language in USICA (United States Innovation and Competition Act) authorizing NASA to select a second company for the Human Landing System…

This week in Washington: Vice President Harris declared a commitment to end ASAT tests; Travis Langster was announced as DoD’s Principal Director of Space Policy; Richard DalBello was tapped to lead NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce; and NASA awarded $278.5 million in contracts for near-Earth space communication development. US Space Policy Updates Travis Langster was…

This week in Washington: the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules to strengthen investor protections in IPOs by SPACs; six candidate locations have been selected for USSF Space Training and Readiness Command Headquarters; the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Space, Science, and Technology authored a letter to President Biden expressing…

This week in Washington, DC, the long-anticipated FY2023 Budget was released and included $24.5 billion for Space Force and $26 billion for NASA, both increases from the past fiscal year, the FAA delayed its environmental review of SpaceX’s Starship, and Singapore became the fifteenth signatory of the Artemis Accords. Virtual Space Symposium 37 Experience Space…

This week in Washington, Congress passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill including a slight overall increase to NASA’s budget, military leaders emphasized that China is a greater national security threat than Russia, Bahrain and Romania signed the Artemis Accords, and China announced plans to open its space station to commercial partners. Space Foundation Virtual…

The space community looks to the International Space Station and the future of international collaboration as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate. China denies the rocket stage set to impact the Moon was from the 2014 Chang’e 5-T1 mission. Virtual Space Foundation Events Interview with Joy White Space Systems Command (SSC) Executive Director Joy…

This week in Washington, D.C., House Representatives signed a letter to House Appropriators requesting an additional $50 million in military space funds, Space Force issued requests for procurement and cyber security support, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation members pushed for a NASA Authorization Bill, and a United Nations meeting on norms of…