Tag: Space Policy
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Botswana to Join Artemis Accords as 68th Signatory
Botswana is set to become the 68th country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining the U.S.-led international framework that promotes peaceful and responsible civil space exploration. The signing ceremony will take place at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., with Botswana’s Minister of Communications and Innovation, David Tshere, joining NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and U.S.…
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NASA Plans Headquarters Relocation as Agency Reorganization Moves Forward
NASA is preparing to relocate its headquarters as part of a broader organizational restructuring effort, with agency officials aiming to identify a new location by the end of 2026. The move comes as the lease on NASA’s current headquarters complex in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to expire in 2028. The agency has occupied the leased…
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Norway Arctic Launch Sites Face EU Regulatory Delays
Will Arctic Launch Sites Transform European Space Access? Northern Norway’s Arctic spaceports face regulatory uncertainty as the European Commission delays its updated Arctic policy until autumn 2026. The infrastructure is ready – but the legal framework for commercial launches from polar latitudes remains undefined, potentially constraining Europe’s access to polar and sun-synchronous orbits that are…
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ESA Chief Calls for Independent European Human Spaceflight Capability
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher has called for Europe to establish its own independent human spaceflight capability, arguing that the continent has become overly dependent on decisions made by foreign partners. In an opinion article published on May 18, Aschbacher said recent changes to the United States’ Artemis programme architecture and Europe’s reduced…
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Matt Anderson Confirmed as NASA Deputy Administrator
What Does Matt Anderson’s Confirmation Mean for NASA’s Commercial Space Strategy? The U.S. Senate confirmed Matt Anderson as NASA’s deputy administrator on May 18, 2026, installing the agency’s second-in-command at a critical juncture for American space policy. Anderson steps into the role as NASA manages a $25 billion annual budget while accelerating the Artemis Program,…
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House Panel Advances $24.4 Billion NASA Budget, Rejecting Administration Proposal
U.S. lawmakers have taken an initial step to reject the administration’s proposed budget for NASA, with a House subcommittee advancing a funding bill that would significantly increase spending for the agency in fiscal year 2027. The House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee approved a bill allocating $24.4 billion to NASA, above the administration’s $18.8…
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FCC Seeks Input on Satellite Market Access Amid Concerns Over EU Space Act
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a public comment period on international satellite market access, as U.S. regulators examine whether American operators face growing barriers overseas. The notice, issued on March 3, invites feedback on the current state of foreign market access for U.S. satellite companies and how regulatory policies abroad could affect future…
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House Panel Advances NASA Authorization Bill Backing Moon-to-Mars Program
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee unanimously approved a new NASA authorization bill on Thursday, reaffirming congressional backing for U.S. leadership in space and the agency’s Moon-to-Mars exploration program. The legislation, introduced as H.R. 7273, emphasizes continued investment in human exploration, science, aeronautics and technology while endorsing an expanded role for commercial partnerships. Authorization…
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UK Space Agency Chief Paul Bate to Step Down at End of March
UK Space Agency chief executive Paul Bate will step down from his role at the end of March, ending a four-and-a-half-year tenure during which the agency secured record funding commitments and expanded its astronaut and science programmes. The agency said in a post on LinkedIn that under Bate’s leadership it had “secured record investment at…
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China Space Contractor Targets Space Tourism Within Five Years, State Media Say
China’s main space contractor has pledged to develop space tourism within the next five years, state media reported on Thursday, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to accelerate commercial spaceflight and deepen its technological competition with the United States. State-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said it aims to “achieve the flight operation of suborbital space…