What’s Happening in Space Policy May 7-13, 2023
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of May 7-13, 2023 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session this week.
Senators Reintroduce Satellite Cybersecurity Legislation
Senators Gary Peters and John Cornyn have reintroduced legislation requring the Department of Homeland Security to help prevent disruptive cyberattacks on commercial satellites. The bill requires DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to consolidate voluntary satellite cybersecurity recommendations to help operators understand how to secure their systems and ensure they have the tools and resources they need for cybersecurity defense.
Last Updated: May 05, 2023 11:59 am ET
Czech Republic Joins Artemis Accords
The Czech Republic became the 24th country to sign the U.S.-led Artemis Accords today. In a signing ceremony at NASA Headquarters, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský pointed to his country’s participation in the lunar Gateway space station and the more than 100 companies and research institutes involved in space activities. Prague also is home to the European Union’s space agency.
Last Updated: May 03, 2023 6:54 pm ET
Environmental Groups Sue FAA For Allowing SpaceX Starship Launches at Boca Chica
Several environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the FAA today because it did not adequately protect the area around SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, TX. The action comes less than two weeks after SpaceX conducted the first launch of Starship/Super Heavy, the most powerful rocket ever built, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air. Some fell on a nearby town. The rocket exploded over the Gulf of Mexico minutes later. They want the FAA’s approval of SpaceX’s launch operations at Boca Chica rescinded.
Last Updated: May 01, 2023 6:33 pm ET
Weekly Roundup for SpacePolicyOnline.com: April 24-30, 2023
Here are links to all the articles published on SpacePolicyOnline.com during the week of April 24-30, 2023, including our “What’s Happening in Space Policy” for this coming week. Click on the titles to read the entire articles.
Last Updated: May 01, 2023 10:21 am ET
What’s Happening in Space Policy April 30-May 6, 2023
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of April 30-May 6, 2023 and any insight we can offer about them. The Senate is in session this week. The House is in recess except for pro forma sessions.
Last Updated: Apr 30, 2023 6:06 pm ET
Nelson Bullish on Starship Despite Failure, Worried About Budget Cuts
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed confidence today that the Artemis III mission will launch around the end of 2025 as planned despite the failure of SpaceX’s Starship launch last week. Starship will be the Human Landing System that takes NASA astronauts from lunar orbit down to and back from the surface. Without Starship, there is no landing. Nelson downplayed the failure as “not a big downer in terms of how SpaceX does things.” Of greater concern is the spending cuts that passed the House yesterday as part of a deficit reduction bill. …
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2023 12:10 am ET
Russia Agrees to Operate ISS Through 2028
The Russian government has agreed to extend operations of the International Space Station through 2028 according to Russia’s state news agency TASS. Russia is the last of the ISS partners to agree to operations beyond 2024, although all the others adopted 2030 as the new end point. The 2028 date coincides with the 30th anniversary of the launch of the first ISS module, Zarya, built by Russia but paid for by the United States.
Last Updated: Apr 26, 2023 8:01 pm ET
Japanese Commercial Lunar Lander Fails on Landing
Hakuto-R Mission 1, a commercial lunar lander built by Japan’s ispace, landed on the Moon today. It did not survive, however. Exactly what happened to the lander and the United Arab Emirates’ Rashid rover is still being investigated, but the company conceded this evening that it made a hard landing and has not been heard from since.
Last Updated: Apr 26, 2023 10:59 am ET
Weekly Roundup for SpacePolicyOnline.com: April 17-23, 2023
Here are links to all the articles published on SpacePolicyOnline.com during the week of April 17-23, 2023, including our “What’s Happening in Space Policy” for this coming week. Click on the titles to read the entire articles.