Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute

Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute
Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute

The Mitchell Institute is advocating that from now on Congress bolster the Space Force’s budget by “about $250M a year” and “increase end strength by approximately 200 personnel for the new responsibilities associated with emerging national interests on the moon and the cislunar region.”

Germany inks Artemis Accords, citing ‘security impact’ in space

Germany inks Artemis Accords, citing ‘security impact’ in space
Germany inks Artemis Accords, citing ‘security impact’ in space

Germany is not the first European country to join, but as a political and economic center of the continent, Berlin’s move could convince several others to follow suit.

With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails

With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails
With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails

“More than 100 lunar missions are planned for this decade alone, including many that are commercial,” said Jessica West, of Canada’s Project Ploughshares.

White House nears plan to assign regulatory authorities for ‘new’ space activities

White House nears plan to assign regulatory authorities for ‘new’ space activities
White House nears plan to assign regulatory authorities for ‘new’ space activities

The ongoing White House-level review of what is often called “mission authorization and supervision” responsibilities has not been simple, according to several government officials involved, with the key agencies with current legal say over space regulations jockeying for a piece of the regulatory pie.

White House crafting rules framework for emerging space activities

White House crafting rules framework for emerging space activities
White House crafting rules framework for emerging space activities

The White House announcement comes after the FCC indicated it was wading into the murky regulatory waters of space-space services like satellite repair and refueling.

Paris inks Artemis Accords, sets stage for closer US-France space norms efforts

Paris inks Artemis Accords, sets stage for closer US-France space norms efforts
Paris inks Artemis Accords, sets stage for closer US-France space norms efforts

“The space industry is evolving, expanding at an extremely fast pace. As new players come on board the number of risk rises but so does the number of opportunities,” said French Ambassador Philippe Étienne.

US Must Build Space ‘Superhighway’ Before China Stakes Claims: Senior Space Force Officer

US Must Build Space ‘Superhighway’ Before China Stakes Claims: Senior Space Force Officer
US Must Build Space ‘Superhighway’ Before China Stakes Claims: Senior Space Force Officer

Brig. Gen. John Olson, who advises CSO Gen. Jay Raymond on space logistics issues, believes the US must rapidly act to take the “first mover advantage” for itself to block Chinese ambitions, which could include territorial claims in space.

DARPA Space Manufacturing Project Sparks Controversy

DARPA Space Manufacturing Project Sparks Controversy
DARPA Space Manufacturing Project Sparks Controversy

“As you surely know, there is a lot of emotion in this on both sides of the argument, making it as much political as it is legal,” said attorney Henry Hertzfeld of the DARPA plans.

White House Unveils New Space Policy, But Does It Matter?

White House Unveils New Space Policy, But Does It Matter?
White House Unveils New Space Policy, But Does It Matter?

“I just think it’s a little too late for trying to have a stamp on something. It is just trying to say that they did something,” said veteran space policy wonk Erin Neal.

Space Force Envisions Cislunar Monitoring; No Crewed Missions

Space Force Envisions Cislunar Monitoring; No Crewed Missions
Space Force Envisions Cislunar Monitoring; No Crewed Missions

“The United States Space Force is not going to be sending humans into space for national security purposes anytime soon,” Maj. Gen. John Shaw said today.

China In Space: Does US Contest Or Cooperate?

China In Space: Does US Contest Or Cooperate?
China In Space: Does US Contest Or Cooperate?

The RAND report points out that China is second only to the US in the number of military and commercial imagery satellites it operates.

WH Woos Potential Allies, Including China, For Space Mining

WH Woos Potential Allies, Including China, For Space Mining
WH Woos Potential Allies, Including China, For Space Mining

“Military bases and maneuvers are not allowed on the Moon or other celestial bodies, so the ability of the Space Force to defend US commercial activities on the Moon or asteroids is also questionable,” said Brian Weeden, director of program planning at Secure World Foundation.