Policy & Politics Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com Covering the business and politics of space Mon, 10 Mar 2025 01:05:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png Policy & Politics Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com 32 32 80681979 Trump says Mars missions are of interest but not a top priority https://spacenews.com/trump-says-mars-missions-are-of-interest-but-not-a-top-priority/ https://spacenews.com/trump-says-mars-missions-are-of-interest-but-not-a-top-priority/#respond Mon, 10 Mar 2025 01:05:27 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514195 Trump

President Trump says a human mission to Mars is of interest to him but is not a “number one” priority, amid concerns about NASA budget cuts.

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FCC allows a power boost for SpaceX’s direct-to-smartphone service https://spacenews.com/fcc-allows-a-power-boost-for-spacexs-direct-to-smartphone-service/ https://spacenews.com/fcc-allows-a-power-boost-for-spacexs-direct-to-smartphone-service/#respond Fri, 07 Mar 2025 21:49:20 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514153

SpaceX secured permission March 7 to provide direct-to-smartphone satellite services at higher power levels to improve connectivity beyond the reach of cell towers across the United States.

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U.S. halts satellite imagery support to Ukraine in major policy shift https://spacenews.com/us-halts-satellite-imagery-support-to-ukraine-in-major-policy-shift/ https://spacenews.com/us-halts-satellite-imagery-support-to-ukraine-in-major-policy-shift/#respond Fri, 07 Mar 2025 21:13:58 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514145

The decision cuts off Ukraine's access to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency's (NGA) commercial satellite imagery platform.

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Regulations are in the crosshairs. But which ones? https://spacenews.com/regulations-are-in-the-crosshairs-but-which-ones/ https://spacenews.com/regulations-are-in-the-crosshairs-but-which-ones/#respond Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:30:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514046 President Donald Trump signs executive orders on February 10, in the Oval Office. Credit: Official White House photo by Abe McNatt

Early in President Donald Trump’s first term, he turned to an executive order to accelerate deregulation. For each new mandate enacted, he called for the repeal of two regulations. This […]

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China highlights commercial space sector in government work report https://spacenews.com/china-highlights-commercial-space-sector-in-government-work-report/ https://spacenews.com/china-highlights-commercial-space-sector-in-government-work-report/#respond Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:08:34 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514097 A SAST (Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology) vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) rocket prototype during a test flight, kicking up dust from the ground. The rocket's engines emit a bright flame, indicating an active and controlled descent. The test was conducted in a desert-like environment under clear skies.

HELSINKI — China’s latest government work report emphasizes the commercial space sector as a key driver of high-tech development, highlighting its potential to transform the nation’s space capabilities. China will […]

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Questions linger about future of TraCSS https://spacenews.com/questions-linger-about-future-of-tracss/ https://spacenews.com/questions-linger-about-future-of-tracss/#respond Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:32:20 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514024 TraCSS

The manager of the Commerce Department’s program to develop a civil space traffic coordination system is back on the job after being swept up in layoffs.

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ISS astronauts reject call for early retirement of the station https://spacenews.com/iss-astronauts-reject-call-for-early-retirement-of-the-station/ https://spacenews.com/iss-astronauts-reject-call-for-early-retirement-of-the-station/#respond Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:30:24 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513917 NASA astronauts

Astronauts on the International Space Station said they disagreed with Elon Musk’s claim that the station was past its prime and should be deorbited soon.

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Two senators question Air Force nominee’s SpaceX connections https://spacenews.com/two-senators-question-air-force-nominees-spacex-connections/ https://spacenews.com/two-senators-question-air-force-nominees-spacex-connections/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:22:32 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513714

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Meink seeking clarity on his relationship with SpaceX and its chief executive, Elon Musk

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Office of Space Commerce hit by layoffs https://spacenews.com/office-of-space-commerce-hit-by-layoffs/ https://spacenews.com/office-of-space-commerce-hit-by-layoffs/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:27:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513679 TraCSS

Layoffs of staff at NOAA have included its Office of Space Commerce, potentially affecting work on space traffic coordination and remote sensing licensing.

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FCC mulls C-band options, raising prospect of another satellite windfall https://spacenews.com/fcc-mulls-c-band-options-raising-prospect-of-another-satellite-windfall/ https://spacenews.com/fcc-mulls-c-band-options-raising-prospect-of-another-satellite-windfall/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:36:52 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513676

The FCC formally kicked off a process to explore new uses for upper C-band satellite spectrum , potentially paving the way for another windfall for incumbent operators.

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China to train Pakistani astronaut for Tiangong space station mission https://spacenews.com/china-to-train-pakistani-astronaut-for-tiangong-space-station-mission/ https://spacenews.com/china-to-train-pakistani-astronaut-for-tiangong-space-station-mission/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:18:27 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513673 A top-down view of China's Tiangong space station, captured by the departing Shenzhou-16 spacecraft crew in late October 2023. The space station's three-module structure, large solar arrays, and docking ports are visible against the backdrop of Earth’s blue atmosphere and scattered clouds.

HELSINKI — China and Pakistan have signed an astronaut training agreement that could see the first international astronaut arrive at the Tiangong space station. The China Manned Space Engineering Office […]

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How independent space companies can fight back against misinformation from Elon Musk and Donald Trump https://spacenews.com/how-independent-space-companies-can-fight-back-against-misinformation-from-elon-musk-and-donald-trump/ https://spacenews.com/how-independent-space-companies-can-fight-back-against-misinformation-from-elon-musk-and-donald-trump/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513641 Self-proclaimed "First Buddy" Elon Musk gestures while discussing the sixth Starship test launch with President-elect Donald Trump at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. To the right of Trump is Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force.

The space industry thrives on precision, innovation and scientific rigor. But in today’s media landscape, facts often take a backseat to spectacle. Two of the loudest voices in the space […]

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South Korea approves strategic plans for space https://spacenews.com/south-korea-approves-strategic-plans-for-space/ https://spacenews.com/south-korea-approves-strategic-plans-for-space/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:17:53 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513660 South Korea’s KSLV-2 rocket blasts off from a seaside launchpad.

HELSINKI — South Korea has approved new space strategies, including plans for reusable launch vehicles, as it seeks to become one of the world’s top five space powers. The Korea […]

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House hearing debates ways to improve Artemis https://spacenews.com/house-hearing-debates-ways-to-improve-artemis/ https://spacenews.com/house-hearing-debates-ways-to-improve-artemis/#respond Thu, 27 Feb 2025 04:01:40 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513620 Artemis 2 boosters

Two former government officials offered conflicting advice to a House committee on how to change NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration campaign

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Space industry hunts for ways to adapt to Trump’s trade policies https://spacenews.com/space-industry-hunts-for-ways-to-adapt-to-trumps-trade-policies/ https://spacenews.com/space-industry-hunts-for-ways-to-adapt-to-trumps-trade-policies/#respond Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:25:40 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513609

Faced with rising costs and supply chain disruptions, the space industry is scrambling to mitigate the financial strain of the Trump administration’s “America First” trade and tariff policies.

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War of words heats up over Space Force’s strategic posture https://spacenews.com/war-of-words-heats-up-over-space-forces-strategic-posture/ https://spacenews.com/war-of-words-heats-up-over-space-forces-strategic-posture/#respond Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:02:06 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513584

The Space Force Association issued a strong rebuttal to a Mitchell Institute report that argued the Space Force is more focused on competitive endurance than on defeating adversaries

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Former FCC Space Bureau chief joins law firm https://spacenews.com/former-fcc-space-bureau-chief-joins-law-firm/ https://spacenews.com/former-fcc-space-bureau-chief-joins-law-firm/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513547 Julie Kearney

The first head of the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau is joining a space law practice at a major law firm.

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NASA associate administrator for exploration to retire https://spacenews.com/nasa-associate-administrator-for-exploration-to-retire/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-associate-administrator-for-exploration-to-retire/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:28:21 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513529 Cathy Koerner

The head of NASA’s exploration programs is leaving the agency in the latest leadership shakeup since the start of the Trump administration.

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Reaping space’s decline? Why to choose the durability of due regard over the debris of military devastation https://spacenews.com/trekking-into-the-stars-why-due-regard-provides-us-a-new-hope/ https://spacenews.com/trekking-into-the-stars-why-due-regard-provides-us-a-new-hope/#respond Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:30:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=512376 Computer-generated image of objects in Earth orbit that are currently being tracked. Credit: NASA

Recent voices have urged the United States to violate the Outer Space Treaty (OST), the binding principles of humanity’s use of outer space, by engrossing private industry for advancing U.S. […]

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NASA employees advised to delay responses to “what did you do” email https://spacenews.com/nasa-employees-advised-to-delay-responses-to-what-did-you-do-email/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-employees-advised-to-delay-responses-to-what-did-you-do-email/#respond Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:23:32 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513478 Self-proclaimed "First Buddy" Elon Musk gestures while discussing the sixth Starship test launch with President-elect Donald Trump at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. To the right of Trump is Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force.

NASA employees are being advised not to immediately respond to an OPM email despite a threat by Elon Musk that they could be fired if they did not.

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House members seek more details on DOGE activities at NASA https://spacenews.com/house-members-seek-more-details-on-doge-activities-at-nasa/ https://spacenews.com/house-members-seek-more-details-on-doge-activities-at-nasa/#respond Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:11:03 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513437 Petro

Top Democrats on the House Science Committee want details about the work DOGE is doing at NASA, calling the lack of transparency “ominous and unacceptable.”

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Boom or bust? Making sense of conflicting signals in the space economy https://spacenews.com/boom-or-bust-making-sense-of-conflicting-signals-in-the-space-economy/ https://spacenews.com/boom-or-bust-making-sense-of-conflicting-signals-in-the-space-economy/#respond Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:15:01 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513432 Artemis 2 booster segment

Conflicting signals are painting a confusing picture for a space economy caught between short-term caution and long-term optimism.

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Companies are planning to build space critical infrastructure. Can space policy keep up? https://spacenews.com/companies-are-planning-to-build-space-critical-infrastructure-can-space-policy-keep-up/ https://spacenews.com/companies-are-planning-to-build-space-critical-infrastructure-can-space-policy-keep-up/#respond Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513103 LunaNet illustration

Building space policy is hard enough. It’s harder when trying to make a future-focused policy decision based on abstract concepts. That’s really the problem with the space critical infrastructure conversation, […]

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Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, to retire https://spacenews.com/jim-free-nasa-associate-administrator-to-retire/ https://spacenews.com/jim-free-nasa-associate-administrator-to-retire/#respond Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:39 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513319 Jim Free

NASA’s associate administrator will leave the agency at the end of the week as uncertainty continues about the timing and scope of potential job cuts.

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