A brief space defense roundup:
White House Proposes Splitting ‘New Space’ Regulatory Authority: The White House National Space Council is proposing a legislative change to split the regulatory authority for new types of commercial space activities between the Commerce and Transportation Departments. This change aims to address issues such as on-orbit refueling and cargo delivery by rocket, which are of interest to the Pentagon. The proposal aims to reduce red tape and support commercial expansion in space, including activities like in-space assembly, manufacturing, and space debris removal. Source Breaking Defense
US Space Force Announces 21 New Launch Missions: The US Space Force has confirmed 21 new launch missions through 2024 under the National Security Space Launch program. These missions, awarded to United Launch Alliance (ULA) and SpaceX, include a focus on reconnaissance and missile protection. ULA will conduct five satellite launches for the National Reconnaissance Office, and SpaceX will launch a Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite for missile warning. Source The Defense Post
European Union Adopts Space Defense Strategy: For the first time, European Union leaders have endorsed a common strategy for the defense of space assets. This strategy, approved by the EU’s Council of Ministers, emphasizes the need to increase awareness and response capabilities to space threats. The EU is moving towards a more assertive stance in space defense, historically having been more focused on civilian-centric space policy. The strategy includes maintaining the technical sovereignty of the EU space industrial base and reducing dependencies on critical technologies. Source Breaking Defense
Space Force Eyes Future of Speed and Agility in Orbit: For its latest Hyperspace Challenge accelerator, the U.S. Space Force selected three startups specializing in satellite propulsion, reflecting the military’s growing interest in nimble satellite technologies. Source SpaceNews
Project Nyx Alpha to Boost UK Space Command’s Domain Awareness: The U.K.’s Space Command is set to enhance its space domain awareness capabilities, following a deal announced by the Ministry of Defence with a small London-based company. Source DefenseNews
