Space policy roundup – Jan.27.2020 | Space-for-All at HobbySpace

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):

[ Update: NASA selects Axiom Space to provide a commercial module for the ISS: NASA Selects First Commercial Destination Module for Space Station | NASA

The next chapter in LEO begins. pic.twitter.com/tg1uwkzkUj

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) January 27, 2020

]

Schedule:
- What’s Happening in Space Policy January 26-February 1, 2020 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
House draft NASA authorization bill:
- House introduces NASA authorization bill that emphasizes Mars over moon – SpaceNews.com
- Bipartisan House NASA Authorizers Reject Artemis Moon-by-2024 Plan, Wants Focus on Mars Instead – SpacePolicyOnline.com
- Bipartisan House bill spurns 2024 moon landing goal, favoring focus on Mars – Spaceflight Now
- NASA Authorization Bill – House proposal (pdf)
- Response:
  - CSF Statement on House Space Subcommittee NASA Authorization Bill – Commercial Spaceflight Federation
    - Marcia Smith on Twitter: “Concluding paragraph from letter to members of the House SS&T cmte sent by the Commercial Spaceflight Federation this morning. CSF wants the bill withdrawn.” / Twitter
  - Jim Bridenstine on Twitter: “While there are challenges with the House Auth Bill (limited commercial partnerships, limited Moon activities, etc), consider the positives: – Strong, bipartisan support for Moon to Mars agenda – All major Artemis programs authorized – Includes Gateway to Mars More to come.” / Twitter
  - House legislators want to hand NASA’s human spaceflight program over to Boeing: Lawmakers also appear to like cost-plus contracts. – Ars Technica
  - House Draft NASA Authorization Bill is the Greatest Hits of Terrible, Dead-End Space Policy – Main Engine Cut Off
  - House authorization bill focuses on pork – Behind The Black
  - Is the Moon a Stepping Stone or a Cornerstone for Mars? – The Planetary Society
Space law:
- What is the Moon Treaty and is it still useful? – Filling Space
Orbital traffic:
- Astroscale Awarded Up To US $4.5 Million Grant From Tokyo Metropolitan Government To Commercialize Active Debris Removal Services – Astroscale
Satellite cybersecurity:
- Space Cybersecurity Information Sharing Group Moves Forward – SpacePolicyOnline.com
US military:
International space

Webcasts:

** Christopher Johnson – What the Public Needs to Know About Space Law – Cold Star Project

Space lawyer and Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center Christopher Johnson is on the Cold Star Project. With host Jason Kanigan, the Secure World Foundation space law advisor shares what the public needs to know about space law. Space law is a complex and often unclear subject, operating on corporate, national and international levels. Chris explains how space law approaches topics such as:
– Government regulation of services and nation state liability
– Planetary protection
– How space resources may be used
– Property rights on celestial bodies
– Achieving consensus on space policy and regulations
– Militarization of space.

** Charles Radley – Predicting Space Collisions and Avoiding the Kessler Syndrome – Cold Star Project

Space Initiatives Inc. president Charles Radley is on a mission to make collision detection between objects in orbit much more effective. The current technology is not as good as you might think, and there is an opportunity to improve space collision detection at an affordable investment. A major danger of orbital collisions is not just the crashing of one object into another, but a cascading series of impacts called the Kessler Syndrome. The worst outcome for a Kessler Syndrome incident is an orbital debris field blocking launches for generations. And it is not a fantasy.