What’s Happening in Space Policy December 10-16, 2023
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of December 10-16, 2023 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session this week.
GAO Wants FAA To Improve How It Investigates Space Launch Mishaps
The Government Accountability Office wants the FAA to improve how it investigates space launch mishaps, especially how it decides whether to do an investigation itself or allow the operator to do it. Historically operators are allowed to investigate their own mishaps under FAA supervision, but over the course of 50 mishaps since 2000, GAO found the FAA has not evaluated whether that’s an effective approach. GAO also champions creating a mechanism for sharing lessons learned among operators even though efforts in the past have not succeeded.
Last Updated: Dec 08, 2023 6:47 am ET
UAG Endorses Single Agency for Mission Authorization
The White House National Space Council’s Users’ Advisory Group is recommending that a single agency be designated to oversee the regulation of novel space activities, the so-called “mission authorization” function. Composed primarily of industry representatives, the UAG provides external advice to the Space Council, which is chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris. The recommendation is at odds with what the Space Council itself recently proposed — a bifurcated arrangement where mission authorization is split between the Department of Commerce and Department of Transportation.
Last Updated: Dec 06, 2023 11:54 pm ET
Weekly Roundup for SpacePolicyOnline.com: November 27-December 3, 2023
Here are links to all the articles published on SpacePolicyOnline.com last week, November 27-December 3, 2023, including our “What’s Happening in Space Policy” for this coming week. Click on each title to read the entire article.
Last Updated: Dec 04, 2023 8:26 am ET
What’s Happening in Space Policy December 3-9, 2023
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of December 3-9, 2023 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session this week.
Last Updated: Dec 03, 2023 5:32 pm ET
GAO: 2025 Unlikely for First Artemis Lunar Landing, Maybe 2027
The Government Accountability Office’s latest report on NASA’s Artemis program is skeptical that the agency can return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2025, the current plan. If development of the Human Landing System and lunar spacesuits, both being procured as Public-Private Partnerships, follows the average timeline for NASA programs, early 2027 is more likely.
Last Updated: Dec 01, 2023 6:15 pm ET
ESA Targets Summer 2024 Launch for First Ariane 6
The European Space Agency announced today they are targeting June 15-July 31, 2024 for the first launch of Ariane 6 following a successful engine test last week. Europe is in a launch vehicle quandary right now with virtually no independent access to space after decades of relying on their own rockets. Ariane 6 is years late, but now months closer to first flight.
Last Updated: Nov 30, 2023 8:55 pm ET
House Committee Clears Commercial Space Bill on Partisan, But Friendly, Vote
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee approved the Commercial Space Act today on a strictly party-line basis, but the top Republican and top Democrat on the committee agreed to work together to find common ground before the bill proceeds to a vote by the full House. Today’s action completed a markup that was sidetracked two weeks ago when the White House suddenly produced its own proposed “mission authorization” language just before the markup began.
Last Updated: Nov 29, 2023 9:00 pm ET
Dragonfly Takes One Step Forward, But Only One
NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan is one step closer to final approval today. A dual-quadcopter that will fly over Titan’s surface, Dragonfly successfully passed a milestone review that allows it to move into final design and fabrication. NASA delayed committing to actually proceeding with the mission because of budget uncertainty, however, and slipped the projected launch date another year to 2028.
Last Updated: Nov 28, 2023 11:28 pm ET
Weekly Roundup for SpacePolicyOnline.com: November 20-26, 2023
Here are links to all the articles published on SpacePolicyOnline.com last week, November 20-26, 2023, including our “What’s Happening in Space Policy” for this coming week. Click on each title to read the entire article.