Tag

Policy And Politics

All articles tagged with #policy and politics

policy-and-politics1 month ago•14 min saved

FCC preserves incumbent MSS rights as US D2D spectrum race grows

The FCC dismissed SpaceX, Iridium, Kepler, Sateliot, and AST SpaceMobile bids to access or expand use of Mobile Satellite Service bands in the Big LEO and 2 GHz spectrum, citing harmful interference risks and the need to protect current MSS licensees. The decision preserves incumbent rights for MSS users (including EchoStar and Globalstar) and aims to provide market certainty, even as Amazon moves to acquire Globalstar to enter the D2D market and AST SpaceMobile advances its US D2D plans with partner cellular frequencies.

via SpaceNews|

#big-leo #direct-to-device #fcc

policy-and-politics1 month ago•15 min saved

Senators push for bigger NASA Mars funding to safeguard U.S. leadership

A group of four senators urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to allocate at least $400 million in FY2027 for NASA’s Mars Future Missions, arguing current funding levels (about $110 million in FY2026 and the same proposed for FY2027) are insufficient to advance critical Mars-tech like precision landing, sample retrieval, and surface launches. They warn that underfunding could erode U.S. leadership in Mars exploration and allow China to close the gap. The article also notes NASA’s budget plan favors cheaper, science-driven missions over MSR-linked work, and industry officials say a practical Mars Sample Return approach could be achievable for under $3 billion."

via SpaceNews|

#budget #mars #mars-sample-return

policy-and-politics3 months ago•15 min saved

NASA outlines path for lunar, nuclear, and commercial stations after White House policy order

NASA says it will lay out details on priorities such as lunar exploration, commercial space stations, and nuclear power in the coming weeks in response to a White House space policy executive order, with procurement milestones for the CLD program and the Fission Surface Power project expected soon; Mars Sample Return remains uncertain as the agency weighs options and funding, aiming to announce timelines about a month after submitting its response.

via SpaceNews|

#artemis #commercial-space-stations #fission-surface-power

policy-and-politics3 months ago•14 min saved

Isaacman rails for Roscosmos talks, eyes Soyuz launch attendance

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said he plans to meet Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov and attend the next crewed Soyuz launch to the ISS this summer from Baikonur, a move that could make him the first NASA administrator at a Soyuz launch since 2018. He framed the talks as focused on ISS cooperation but left room for broader NASA–Roscosmos collaboration despite sanctions, following a recent meeting with ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.

via SpaceNews|

#isaacman #iss #nasa

policy-and-politics3 months ago•14 min saved

House bill tightens NASA oversight of Artemis lander and spacesuits

The House Science Committee’s NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 would require NASA to provide detailed progress, funding, milestones, and challenges reports on Blue Origin and SpaceX’s lunar lander work and on spacesuit development, with reports due within 60–90 days of enactment. It also mandates maintaining in-house spacesuit expertise at Johnson Space Center, outlines ISS transition plans to commercial stations, and requests a Mars Sample Return strategy, all while keeping Artemis architecture largely intact and aiming for a 2028 Artemis 3 landing.

via SpaceNews|

#artemis #hls #lunar-lander