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):

• Schedule:
  • What’s Happening in Space Policy April 25-May 1, 2021 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Space Tourism Conference – Profiting from the Space Experience Economy – Wed., April 28 – Thu., April 29, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT, Register
  • Date set for the European STM [Space Traffic Management] Conference for 7 July 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global
• NASA lunar programs:
  • NASA IG: Artemis Will Cost $86 Billion Through FY2025, Launch Dates “Highly Unlikely” – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Artemis Status Update – NASA OIG (pdf)
  • Artemis human landing system selection:
    • NASA’s bold bet on Starship for the Moon may change spaceflight forever | Ars Technica
    • NASA’s choice of Starship proves government now fully embraces capitalism in space – Behind the Black
    • Elon Musk: NASA goal of 2024 Moon landing is ‘actually doable’ – CNBC.com
    • SpaceX could land astronauts on the moon in 2024, Elon Musk says | Space.com
    • After NASA taps SpaceX’s Starship for first Artemis landings, agency looks to on-ramp future vehicles – NASASpaceFlight.com
    • Why NASA Picked SpaceX to Land Humans on the Moon And How the Decision Will Help Humans Land on Mars – Planetary Society
    • Analyst: NASA’s lunar lander decision a ‘major snub’ to Blue Origin – Puget Sound Business Journal
    • Elon Musk’s Economies Of Scale Won SpaceX The NASA Moonshot – Forbes
• Biden space:
  • Op-ed | The Senator and the Commander – SpaceNews
  • Bill Nelson as NASA administrator:
    • Bill Nelson & NASA: Flawed Vision | National Review
    • Bill Nelson is a born-again supporter of commercial space at NASA | TheHill
    • Bill Nelson: now an advocate of private commercial space? – Behind the Black
    • Bill Nelson backs NASA decision on lunar lander in confirmation hearing | Ars Technica
    • Bill Nelson backs 2024 for return to moon – The Washington Post
    • Former Sen. Nelson, Biden’s NASA nominee, gets a warm reception in Senate. Even from Ted Cruz. – Houston Chronicle
    • Nelson sails through NASA administrator confirmation hearing – SpaceNews
    • Nelson Greeted With Accolades at Nomination Hearing – SpacePolicyOnline.com
    • Bill Nelson gets GOP support at NASA confirmation hearing – TampaBay.com
• Commercial Crew:
  • NASA gets what it wanted: Independent, reliable access to space | Ars Technica
• Space technology:
  • NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Extracts First Oxygen from Red Planet | NASA
  • GER (Global Exploration Roadmap) Critical Technologies Portfolio – ISECG – In situ resource utilization
• ISS & other space stations:
  • • Commercialized low-Earth orbit may be the future of the ISS – MyNews13.com
    • NASA emphasizes good relationship with Roscosmos as Russia mulls exiting ISS – SpaceNews
    • Russia to jointly use ISS and new national orbital outpost for several years – TASS
• Commercial space:
  • Constellations
    • OneWeb adds 36 satellites to broadband constellation as deployment accelerates – SpaceNews
  • Finance:
    • Op-ed | Blank checks c/o the stars: Market analysis given short shrift as companies cash in on SPAC spree – SpaceNews
    • SPAC rule changes add complexity and delays for space companies eying public markets – SpaceNews
• Planetary defense:
  • Shoemaker NEO Grant Winners Advance Their Work | The Planetary Society
• Space law:
  • The battle for space is about to heat up – Prospect Magazine
• Regulation – spectrum, export control, launch, etc:
  • SpaceX Starlink competitor OneWeb misled the FCC, media with false “near-miss” narrative – Teslarati
  • Lockheed Martin removes Momentus from NASA technology demonstration mission – SpaceNews
• Space traffic & environment issues:
  • SpaceX denies claim that Starlink and OneWeb satellites almost collided | Ars Technica
  • Op-ed | Conjunction risk drives need for information sharing – SpaceNews
• US states space:
  • ‘This is not SpaceX property – this is my property’: SpaceX looks to recast South Texas town as ‘Starbase’ – ExpressNews.com
  • Senate passes bill to add lawmakers to Space Florida board – Florida Politics
  • No finders keepers under spacecraft parts bill that’s landed on DeSantis’ desk – Orlando Sentinel
• Weather & remote sensing satellites:
  • Space is critical to climate: If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it | TheHill
  • Op-ed | Space is Vital for Earth Day – SpaceNews
  • Albedo raises $10 million for business to offer ultra-high-resolution Earth imagery – SpaceNews
  • NASA and the new urgency of climate change – SpaceNews
• US Defense space:
  • Space Café WebTalk with Theresa Hitchens Recap: The scoop on war in space: could life imitate art? – SpaceWatch.Global
  • Lawmakers continue to question Space Command’s move to Alabama
 – SpaceNews
  • Counterspace:
    • SWF Staff Discuss Counterspace Proliferation and Space Arms Control at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency | Secure World
      • Global Counterspace Proliferation and Space Arms Control – Defense Threat Reduction Agency Strategic Forum – April 21, 2021 (pdf)
    • Study Sheds Light on Chinese Directed Energy Program – NationalDefenseMagazine.org
  • Orbital traffic:
    • Space Force sees need for civilian agency to manage congestion – SpaceNews
    • Congested orbits a top concern for U.S. Space Command – SpaceNews
  • Space based solar power:
    • The US Air Force wants to beam solar power to Earth from space (video) | Space.com
    • Space Power Beaming – Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – See also the AFRL SSPIDR video below.
  •  Technology:
    • U.S. military’s appetite for information fueling demand for space technology – SpaceNews
    • JADC2: SDA To Upgrade Satellite Laser Links – Breaking Defense
    • Space Development Agency to add more laser links to satellites if the price is right – SpaceNews
    • Space Force Eyes Buying Commercial Satellite ISR – Breaking Defense
    • DARPA Nuke Sat To Target Cislunar Monitoring Mission – Breaking Defense
    • US military picks 3 companies to test nuclear propulsion in cislunar space | Space.com
  • Acquisition:
    • Space Force pushing procurement reforms but culture change is a slow go – SpaceNews
• General space policy, goals, commentary, etc.:
  • A Drake Equation for Alien Artifacts – Centauri-Dreams.org
  • Op-ed | A multicultural approach to space development – SpaceNews

International space

• Multi-national:
  • Why Global Collaboration, Not Competition, is the Future of the Space Industry – Via Satellite
• Canada:
  • Canada budgets for next-generation EO satellites and ground systems – SpaceNews
• China:
  • China is developing plans for a 13,000-satellite megaconstellation – SpaceNews
  • Space Station:
    • Rocket to lift space station core moves to launch tower – Chinadaily.com.cn
    • China Space Station: Busy Launch Schedule Ahead – Leonard David
  • China/Russia lunar co-op:
    • China, Russia open moon base project to international partners, early details emerge – SpaceNews
    • Joint declaration of Roscosmos and CNSA on creation of Lunar station – ROSCOSMOS
    • Russia, China Move Forward on International Moon Station – Leonard David
    • China, Russia welcome int’l partners in moon station cooperation – Chinadaily.com.cn
    • China-Russia lunar project strives for universal progress – China Space Administration – TASS
  • Science missions:
    • China aims to launch Chang’e-6 lunar probe around 2024 – Xinhua
    • China eyes asteroid defence system, comet mission | Reuters
    • China pushes forward exploration of small celestial bodies – Xinhua
    • China announces name for first Mars rover – Chinadaily.com.cn
  • Commercial space:
    • China’s commercial sector finds funding and direction – SpaceNews
    • Reusable plane project aims for low orbit – Chinadaily.com.cn
• Europe
  • ESA and FAO cooperate to address food security – SpaceWatch.Global
  • How can space support green financial innovation? – ESA
• France:
  • ASTERX 2021: French Space Forces Reach For Higher ‘Orbit’ – Breaking Defense
• Germany:
  • German DLR sends radiation detector on Astrobotic’s Peregrine to the Moon – SpaceWatch.Global
• India:
  • ISRO’s Rs 800 crore satellite to communicate with Gaganyaan mission after launch – Firstpost
  • ISRO on guard as virus rages – The Hindu
  • OneWeb: No wires or towers: Satellite broadband promises to be the next big thing in India – India Times
• New Zealand:
  • University of Auckland chosen as base for NZ’s first space mission control | Newshub
• Portugal:
  • Exploring Synergistic Potential of the Portuguese Space Strategy – SpaceWatch.Global
•  Russia:
  • Russian cosmonautics under huge financial restraints — Roscosmos chief – TASS
  • Talks on Russian RD-180 rocket engine deliveries to US may restart after Starliner’s tests – TASS
  • ISS:
    • NASA emphasizes good relationship with Roscosmos as Russia mulls exiting ISS – SpaceNews
    • Nauka module to become integral part of the ISS — Roscosmos chief – TASS
    • Russia to jointly use ISS and new national orbital outpost for several years – TASS
    • In Russia, they admitted that they would hand over the responsibility for their segment of the ISS to the United States – Russia news today
    • Russia to Quit Int’l Space Station in 2025 – Reports – The Moscow Times
    • ISS’s worsening state likely to trigger a disaster in the future, Russian deputy PM warns – TASS
  • New Russian station:
    • Russia to rework ISS research and power module for new national orbital station – TASS
    • Russia’s new orbiter’s creation commensurable with ISS maintenance after 2025 – TASS
    • Roscosmos chief expects 1st module of national orbital station to be launched in late 2025 – TASS
    • First crewed mission on yet-to-be created orbital station due 2026 – TASS
    • Russia’s cooperation with China on upcoming space station looks promising despite decision to build its own: experts – Global Times
    • First module for Russia’s new orbital station to be ready in 2025 – TASS
    • Russia Ready to Attract Foreign Partners to Project of New Space Station, Deputy Prime Minister Says – Sputnik International
    • Russian cosmonaut says there are no obvious reasons for cutting term of ISS operation – TASS
    • Russia is capable of building orbital station on its own, deputy prime minister says – TASS
  • China co-op:
    • China, Russia open moon base project to international partners, early details emerge – SpaceNews
    • Joint declaration of Roscosmos and CNSA on creation of Lunar station – ROSCOSMOS
    • Russia, China Move Forward on International Moon Station – Leonard David
    • China, Russia welcome int’l partners in moon station cooperation – Chinadaily.com.cn
    • China-Russia lunar project strives for universal progress – China Space Administration – TASS
• UAE
  • NASA contractor launches Abu Dhabi office as UAE builds space race reputation – Arabianbusiness
  • Dubai’s Courts of Space launches international working group to explore space-related legal innovations | ZAWYA
• UK:
  • The Integrated Review and UK Spacepower: A Mental Shift? – SpaceWatch.Global
  • Amazon executive in conflict of interest row over UK space role – CityAM
• Zimbabwe:
  • Meet Zimbabwe’s first space lawyer | The Chronicle

Webcasts:

** Episode 34 – What’s Hot 1st Quarter 2021 – Space Thoughts (YouTube) – Space Law & Policy Solutions/Michael Listner

** China’s Mars rover named Zhurong, China Space Day, Satellite Laser Comms, Tianbing Rockets – Ep 30 – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Aero/Space News Roundup! Without further ado, the news update from the week of 19 – 25 April.

1) The 6th China Space Day took place in Nanjing on Saturday April 24 …
2) ChinaSat Made Some Big Statements about China’s Constellation Plans …
3) Spacety and Intane Optics complete China’s first private satellite-ground laser comms experiment …
4) Tianbing Aerospace Announces an Intelligent Rocket Manufacturing Base in Suzhou …

** Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research Project (SSPIDR) – AFResearchLab

SSPIDR is a series of Integrated Demonstrations and Technology Maturation efforts at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate to address space-based power collection and transmission capabilities. Space solar power beaming is not a new concept; yet until recently, the technology did not have a clear path forward. In conjunction with primary industry partner Northrop Grumman, AFRL established the SSPIDR project to mature technology critical to building an operational solar power transmission system for providing reliable and logistically agile power to expeditionary forces. Learn more: https://afresearchlab.com/technology/…

** Friday, Apr.23.2021 – The Space Show – James A. M. Muncy discussed “space policy and the new administration, Sen. Nelson, SLS, SpaceX and lots more“.

** Hotel Mars – John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wednesday, Apr.21.2021 – Rand Simberg spoke with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston about “the nomination of retired Senator Bill Nelson to the position of the new NASA Administrator. Rand talked about Sen. Nelson being considered the father of SLS, what might happen when the new SpaceX big rockets start flying which will likely impact SLS, plus Rand talked about risk taking and Sen. Nelson being risk averse.”

*** Space Café WebTalk – BLACK OPS by Ralph Thiele – Edition 3 – 11. March 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this Space Cafè “Black Ops by Ralph Thiele #3”, Colonel (Ret`d) Ralph Thiele, Chairman of the Berlin based Political-Military Society, President of Euro Défense-Germany, and Managing Director of StratByrd Consulting, Germany talked with his guest about the Implication for Security & Defence coming with:

Outpace, Outthink, Outmaneuver – New Technologies and Competition in Space

Geostrategic competition is global in scope and includes outer space. The boundaries between civil and military competition have become fluid and are marked by multiple hybrid threat situations, attacks on businesses and critical infrastructure, and the threat of prolonged, low-intensity or shorter, high-intensity conflict. Across the threat spectrum, space holds a critical role. In particular, Russia and China are using new, disruptive dual-use technologies as the key to advancing their own capabilities and geopolitical ambitions. Both countries have weaponized space and have repeatedly demonstrated their capabilities for precise maneuvers in space. Space is becoming increasingly contested in multiple domains-physical, cyber and electromagnetic.

A discussion about threats, new technologies such as AI and warfare in space with : Robie I. Samanta Roy, Ph.D., Vice President, Technology, Intelligence, Cyber and Technology, Lockheed Martin Government Affairs

** Space Café WebTalk – José Achache – 16. March 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

José Achache is the founder and CEO of ALTYN, a Geneva-based Swiss company that develops space-related projects such as space security. This week, he and SpaceWatch.Global publisher, Torsten Kriening, discuss trends in space, as well as space warfare and how the industry’s increasing value is increasing the margin for threats that could affect our everyday lives.

With over 40 years of experience spanning multiple countries, José’s experience is paralleled by few. In addition to his role as CEO of ALTYN, he is the Managing Director of AP Swiss, which administers the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Programme (ARTES), and is the chair of several space company boards, including Media Lario S.r.l and Dotphoton. His previous roles include the Deputy General for France’s space agency, CNES, and Director of Earth Observation for the European Space Agency, to name a few.

** JADO, 5G and the Speed of Mission Need – Constellations Podcast

Listen to Stacy Kubicek, Vice President and General Manager for Mission Solutions at Lockheed Martin talk about mission critical solutions that benefit the warfighter and support national defense. She will discuss getting data to the warfighter much faster with transformational technology that includes 5G. Ms. Kubicek discusses interoperability and battle space connectivity being critical to staying ahead of our adversaries, as well as an explanation of the types of assets that would support this kind of capability. Learn about the adoption of agile software development methods that accelerate delivery of software to address threats – hint, it is not the waterfall model. Finally, hear about the need to take a team approach to provide the best solutions for the military and the warfighter, which is essentially what matters at the end of the day.

** 20 years of ESA on the ISS – ESA

** Dodging debris to keep satellites safe – ESA

** April 23, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** April 21, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

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