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 September 13-19, 2020 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Engage Space – Sept.  29–30 – virtual event – “AFWERX EngageSpace is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with the best and brightest and see the future of the new frontier. From the 800 companies that submitted their solutions to four space-focused AFWERX Challenges, 178 have been selected to showcase their solutions and connect with Space experts, potential government buyers, and enthusiasts from around the world.”
    • AFWERX Announces EngageSpace, the Premier Collaboration Event for the Space Industry – AFWERX/Space Frontier 
  • ASCEND, Nov. 16-18 – AIAA virtual conference “designed to drive the space economy forward. It’s the center of gravity for the space community—bringing technical and business leaders together to solve problems that affect our entire planet and beyond. It’s not just an engineering forum. It’s not just a business conference.”
    • Agenda  – ASCEND Space Event
• NASA programs:
  • NASA’s Juno spacecraft seeking extended mission at Jupiter – SpaceNews
  • Exclusive: Boeing to face independent ethics probe over lunar lander bid – document | Reuters
  • General Atomics Delivers Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Concept to NASA | General Atomics
• SLS/Orion:
  • Charlie Bolden says the quiet part out loud: SLS rocket will go away | Ars Technica
  • The Space Launch System is an irredeemable mistake – Eli Dourado/Medium
• Commercial space:
  • NASA offers to purchase lunar resources:
    • Space Resources are the Key to Safe and Sustainable Lunar Exploration – Administrator Jim Bridenstine/NASA
    • Purchase of Lunar Regolith and/or Rock Materials from Contractor – NASA/GSA
    • NASA To Buy Lunar Resources From Private Companies – SpacePolicyOnline.com
    • NASA wants to buy Moon rocks from private companies – The Verge
    • NASA challenges companies to mine lunar soil – Spaceflight Now
  • NASA Enlists Commercial Partners to Fly Payloads to Moon | NASA
  • Amazon hires Peter Marquez as first head of space policy – CNBC
• Biden space:
  • Bolden talks expectations for Biden’s space policy – POLITICO
• ISS:
  • Gerstenmaier warns against ending space station program prematurely – SpaceNews
  • Twenty Years aboard ISS Through the Eyes of Researchers | NASA
  • How (Not) to Design a Space Station – Supercluster
• US states space:
  • New Mexico officials ask AG for opinion on spaceport policies, taxes – Las Cruces Sun
• Weather satellites:
  • NOAA weather satellite transitions to new role for U.S. military – Spaceflight Now
  • NOAA’s former satellite now providing weather data to the U.S. military – SpaceNews
• Space weather:
  • Congress set to pass space weather bill – SpaceNews
• US Defense space:
  • Launch:
    • Space Force: Too early to say if military will need ‘super heavy’ launch vehicles – SpaceNews
    • DoD watchdog: There’s nothing wrong with how Air Force certifies new launch vehicles – SpaceNews
    • ULA studying long-term upgrades to Vulcan – SpaceNews
    • Northrop Grumman to terminate OmegA rocket program – SpaceNews
    • OmegA Launch Tower to be demolished as KSC 39B fails to become a multi-user pad – NASASpaceFlight.com
  • Space Force gets political boost from Senate supporters – SpaceNews
  • In stopgap funding bill, White House wants Space Force accounts separated from Air Force – SpaceNews
  • Space Force Strategy Out In ‘Months’ In Time For Budget – Breaking Defense
  • Space Force developing a strategy to improve satellite communications – c4isrnet.com
  • Raytheon wins contract to connect military aircraft to commercial internet satellites – SpaceNews
  • Space Force outreach emphasizes role protecting global space economy – SpaceNews
  • US, Allies Agree On Threats In Space But Struggle With Messaging – Breaking Defense

International space

• Australia:
  • Australia re-enters the space race – Cosmos Magazine
•  China:
  • Nation planning scientific station on the moon – ecns.cn
  • China Focus: China’s Chang’e-4 probe reveals landing site impact history on moon’s far side – Xinhua
  • China tests experimental reusable spacecraft shrouded in mystery – Spaceflight Now
  • China’s Landspace raises $175 million for Zhuque-2 launch vehicles – SpaceNews
• Europe:
  • ESA’s polar station marks three decades satellite tracking – ESA
• Egypt:
  • Arab Academy for Science delegation visits Egyptian Space Agency – SatellitePro ME
• Germany:
  • Germany eyes space satellite launchpad in North Sea – BBC News
• India:
  • Former ISRO Chief Explains The Importance Of Space Assets In India-China Standoff In Ladakh – NDTV.com
  • New Space Policy is a momentous step in India’s Space Odyssey, says Vivek Kimahune, Executive VP, Saankhya Labs – The Financial Express
  • 4 Indian astronauts are training in Russia for future spaceflights | Space.com
• Japan:
  • First H3 launch slips to 2021 – SpaceNews
  • Japan space agency delays H3 rocket flight due to technical issues | Reuters
  • After Successful ‘Kounotori’ Missions, Japan Sets Sights on First Manned Lunar Exploration | JAPAN Forward
• Philippines:
  • Filipinos in space: ‘Suntok sa buwan’? | Inquirer Opinion
• Russia:
  • Specialists decide not to adjust ISS orbit due to US satellite – Roscosmos – TASS
  • US confirms purchase of one seat in Soyuz spacecraft lifting off this fall – TASS
  • Modernization of Sea Launch space facility to begin in two months — Roscosmos – TASS
  • Top Roscosmos officials evaluate Sea Launch’s readiness for future Soyuz missions – TASS
  • Russia finishes tests of satellite lasers for advertisement from space – TASS
  • ISS’s orbit to be raised by 800 meters ahead of Soyuz MS-17’s launch – TASS
• UAE
  • UAE’s planned city on Mars gets help from university on radiation research – SpaceWatch.Global
  • UAE creates satellite operations centre for distance learning – SatellitePro ME
• UK:
  • UK-built nanosatellites ready for take off – GOV.UK
  • New UK space projects to boost global sustainable development receive £3.4 million cash boost – GOV.UK

Webcasts:

** Space Policy Edition: The Moon-to-Mars Strategy, with Dr. Scott Pace – The Planetary Society

The National Space Council’s Scott Pace joins the show to discuss the current administration’s whole-of-government strategy to expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth. He argues that Project Artemis naturally integrates national security, commerce, geopolitical, and exploration opportunities and generates a broad benefit to the United States, thus creating a political coalition to sustain human activity beyond Earth. Casey and Mat also discuss NASA’s announcement that it hopes to purchase commercially-collected lunar samples—the answer may not be what you think.

** NASA Asks Commercial Companies to Collect Moon Rocks – NASA

… To meet NASA’s requirements, a company will collect a small amount of Moon “dirt” or rocks from any location on the lunar surface, provide imagery to NASA of the collection and the collected material, along with data that identifies the collection location, and conduct an “in-place” transfer of ownership of the lunar regolith or rocks to NASA. After ownership transfer, the collected material becomes the sole property of NASA for our use.

NASA’s goal is that the retrieval and transfer of ownership will be completed before 2024. The solicitation creates a full and open competition, not limited to U.S. companies, and the agency may make one or more awards. The agency will determine retrieval methods for the transferred lunar regolith at a later date.

** Christopher Johnson – The Need for Engagement and Outcomes In Space Law – Cold Star Project S02E61

Space lawyer Christopher Johnson from the Secure World Foundation is back on the Cold Star Project, and we’re looking at what he has learned this year. Christopher has hosted several Moon Dialog Research Salons and gotten tremendous public input and engagement on space issues. With host Jason Kanigan, he discusses:

– What he learned from the salons – What differences he noted in platforms used, behaviors and outcomes in public engagement with actor/agency/government versus the public
– What’s needed to move forward with space law engagement and outcomes; what that looks like as you’ve seen so far, in terms of process and outcome
– Incentive versus punishment, carrot vs stick, when it comes to issues like orbital debris control: which do we need most?
– What updates do we need most to Outer Space Treaty areas?
– What are his expectations for the Summit for Space Sustainability hosted by the Secure World Foundation beginning tomorrow?

Secure World Foundation website: https://swfound.org/

** 83- The Space Force, Commercial Technology and Ground Digitization – Constellations Podcast

Listen to Doug Lamborn, U.S. Congressman, talk about partnering with commercial providers. With the government relying more on commercial to take some of the risks of Space off the shoulders of the taxpayer, it makes it a win-win situation. He describes commercial companies bringing a lot of capability, including intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. Congressman Lamborn discusses a common digital ground infrastructure being important to unify commercial and military satellite communications capabilities. In addition, commercial industry is developing digital ground capabilities that can be further leveraged by the government, avoiding parallel investment in terminals, hardware and satellites. Finally, learn about the difference between the Space Development Agency (SDA) creating a large constellation of satellites to track missiles versus the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) program providing global sensor coverage to detect, track and target ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

** Artemis VS Apollo: Is NASA’s Artemis program actually “sustainable?” – Everyday Astronaut

NASA’s making some big moves to finally get humans back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. The Artemis program is shaping up with checks written and hardware built! So how does a 21st Century program to the moon compare to that of the 1960’s? In Today’s video, we’re going to answer the question, why does NASA think Artemis will be a sustainable program when SLS is sooooo dang expensive AND it’ll take at least two launches to get humans and their lunar landers to the moon…

** September 9, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

** September 11, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

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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 September 6-12, 2020 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• NASA programs:
  • NASA space technology faces potential budget pressure – SpaceNews
  • Report sees ways Artemis supports sustainable human Mars exploration – SpaceNews
• SLS/Orion:
  • NASA megarocket blasts past cost estimates, forces Congress notification | Space.com
• Commercial space:
  • Future of space station commercialization needs fresh ideas and continued support, panel finds | Space.com
  • Report: Future of Space Tourism – Leonard David
  • The Future of Space Tourism, Alyssa K. King, Congressional Research Service (pdf)
• Trump space:
  • New White House Space Policy Directive Addresses Cybersecurity – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Trump orders hardening of satellites against cyber treats – The Washington Post
  • Donald Trump vs Joe Biden on space issues – Florida Today
  • Would NASA Stay On Track For Mars If Trump Is Not Reelected? | Aviation Week Network
• Regulation:
  • SpaceX seeks FCC broadband funds, must prove it can deliver sub-100ms latency | Ars Technica
  • FAA Approves Rocket Lab’s Operator License for Wallops Launch Complex – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• Space law:
  • Study raises new concerns about lack of governing norms in space – SpaceNews
  • Key Governance Issues in Space – Kaitlyn Johnson, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (pdf)
  • Nebraska Virtual Space Law Week: Zoom Webinars – Nebraska College of Law
  • Outer space needs private law – The Space Review
  • Collaboration is the cornerstone of space exploration – The Space Review
  • #SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Moon missions: exciting times coming – SpaceWatch.Global
• Space traffic:
  • Pick an agency, any agency – The Space Review
  • First laser detection of space debris in daylight – ESA
  • Who gets to manage traffic in space? | Federal News Network
• US states space:
  • Business Students Partner with Space Florida to Boost Spaceport Revenues | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Michigan vies for place in space race | News Hits
  • Rocket Lab Granted FAA Launch Operator License for Missions from Launch Complex 2 – Rocket Lab
  • Rocket Lab granted FAA launch operator license for missions from Wallops – Shore Daily News
• Weather satellites:
  • NASA Signs Pact To Transport Storm Monitoring Satellite During Busy Hurricane Season – Forbes.com
• US Defense space:
  • Thinking outside the box – RCO delivers Department of the Air Force capabilities > United States Space Force
  • Lockheed Martin, York Win SDA Contracts – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Lockheed Martin enlists Tyvak and Telesat for Space Development Agency contract – SpaceNews
  • The Rise and Fall of Space Sanctuary in U.S. Policy | The Aerospace Corporation
  • Space Sanctuary – Rise and Fall in U.S. Policy – Leonard David
  • From SSA to space recon: Setting the conditions to prevail in astrodynamic combat – The Space Review
  • #SpaceWatchGL Column: ESPI Brief 43 – U.S. Defense Space Strategy – SpaceWatch.Global
• Space applications:
  • The Value of Space By Sam Wilson + Dr. Michael P. Gleason, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation/SatMagazine

International space

• Angola:
  • Russia to launch telecoms satellite for Angola in 2022 – SatellitePro ME
• Canada:
  • Government of Canada announces new President for the Canadian Space Agency – Canada.ca
• China:
  • Reusable spacecraft’s successful 2-day mission proves vehicle convenient, affordable – Chinadaily.com.cn
  • China hails ‘key breakthroughs’ as reusable spacecraft returns safely to Earth | South China Morning Post
  • China launches experimental spaceplane – NASASpaceFlight.com
  • DoD Report Flags China’s Space Agenda – Leonard David
  • Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2020 – Annual Report to Congress – Dept. of Defense (pdf)
  • Pentagon report: China amassing arsenal of anti-satellite weapons – SpaceNews
  • China plans to launch 12 IoT satellites next year – Xinhua
• Europe:
  • Space Café WebTalk Recap: Jean-Jacques Dordain on European Space Innovation – SpaceWatch.Global
• India:
  • Isro’s Chandrayaan-3 to lift off for Moon in early 2021, without orbiter | Business Standard News
• Israel:
  • Israel Launches Nanosatellite to Perform Groundbreaking Medical Experiments in Space – The Jewish Press
• Russia:
  • Soyuz carrier rocket’s third stage failure detected in January fixed – TASS
  • Russia Will Start Making New Soyuz-5 Rocket Next Year, Progress Space Centre’s Director Says – Sputnik International
• UK:
  • Space Hub Sutherland application submitted to Scottish Land Court | HIE

Webcasts:

** Who gets to manage traffic in space? | Federal News Network

Yogi Berra would have gotten it wrong when it comes to the space surrounding Earth. It’s gotten so popular people are still flocking there. It raises serious questions: Which federal agency should take charge of space traffic management? Congress couldn’t figure that one out. So it hired the National Academy of Public Administration. For what NAPA concluded, Federal Drive with Tom Temin turned to study fellow and former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe.

** Episode 23 3 Rings of U S Commercial Space Licensing – Space Thoughts/Michael Listner, Space Law & Policy Solutions

** The Space Show – Tues. Sept.1.2020 – An open lines program included discussion of multiple topics “and there were two callers, Marshall and Ft. Worth John. Marshall reviewed the book “Space Is Open For Business” and more. John talked about physics, an online Cal Tech class he completed that might interest listeners plus he commented on the Mufon report of UFO sightings and why the US has so many sightings compared to the rest of the world.”

** Defending Earth! A Planetary Society Live Event – Planetary Society

Saving our planet from an asteroid strike is the only preventable major disaster. The Planetary Society reviews its work to help humankind prepare for and avoid this otherwise inevitable calamity. Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan welcomes Chief Scientist Bruce Betts, Chief Advocate and Senior Space Policy Adviser Casey Dreier, and our special guest, Professor Amy Mainzer of the University of Arizona, Principal Investigator for the NEOWISE mission. This event was presented live on September 3, 2020.

** September 2, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

** September 3, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

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