"We need some coherency around what we're actually doing on the public policy front, and we need some more technical coordination ... so we could at least be at the stage where we're still on the field, versus sitting on the sidelines trying to figure out how to catch up," said Brookings fellow Nicol Turner Lee.
O'Connell said that the "silver lining" to the near miss of two defunct US satellites over Pittsburg on Jan. 29 is that "people are beginning to realize that these near misses are taking place much more frequently."
While humans must stay in the loop for kinetic decisions, empowering drones to operate autonomously is a force multiplier.
"This is a full-on disaster," said one senior industry executive close to the effort. "It means no change from the status quo, which will ultimately harm US leadership in space."
"It's mostly a bunch of backward-looking colonels at DoD" causing the problems, said one industry source, "not the IC."
The new satellite export control rules being finalized by the Commerce and State Depts. will take into account the "need to maintain export controls with some countries, while streamlining them for others," says Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
House appropriators rejected Trump's plan to put satellite regulation under the Commerce Department and chide Secretary Wilbur Ross for his refusal to testify on the 2020 budget request.
Watch experts discuss foreign influence risks, evolving DoD policy, and strategies for balancing security with scientific collaboration.
As big defense firms line up to pitch their fighter planes to India, the government of Narendra Modi is demanding they build in India, something that might be at odds with the Trumpian America First philosophy.