This Week in Washington

• The House of Representatives passed the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024 in a 366-21 vote. The bill now advances to the Senate for consideration.
• Colonel Nick Hague is the first Guardian launched into space as part of the NASA SpaceX Crew-9 mission.?
• NASA and the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in space science, exploration, and aeronautics.?

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United States Space Policy Updates?

• NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy?announced that the agency has received congressional appropriations committees' approval to establish the Space Sustainability Division within the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD). (SpaceNews , September 21)? ?
• The House passed the?NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024?in a 366-21 vote. The bill now advances to the Senate for consideration. (H.R.8958 , September 23)??
• The House passed the?Accessing Satellite Data to Enable New Discoveries (ASCEND) Act?by voice vote. A companion bill has been introduced by Sens. John Hickenlooper and John Cornyn in August 2023. (H.R.6219 , September 23)??
• The?Joint Commercial Operations (JCO)?of the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) expanded its portfolio to include surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking (tac-SRT). (Breaking Defense , September 24)?
• The?Office of Space Commerce (OSC)?announced the acceptance of orders from ExoAnalytic Solutions, Slingshot Aerospace, COMSPOC, SpaceNav, and Kayhan Space to support a commercial pathfinder project on satellite owner/operator (O/O) ephemeris. (OSC , September 25)? ?
• In a?House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation?hearing, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Mike Whitaker defended the fines imposed on SpaceX for launching without a permit. SpaceX later released a statement disputing the claims. (SpaceNews , September 25)?
• The?Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative, which now hosts ten partners, celebrated its tenth anniversary. (DOD , September 26)??
• The?NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG)?released a report entitled “NASA’s Management of Risks to Sustaining ISS Operations through 2030” and cited increased rates of air leaks as a top safety risk in continuous ISS operations. Other concerns include the dependence on a single launch provider and increasing space debris. (OIG , September 26)?
• NASA astronaut and U.S. Space Force (USSF)?Colonel Nick Hague?is the first Guardian launched into space in support of the Expedition 72 crew on the ISS. (USSF , September 28)?
• The?FAA?launched an investigation for?SpaceX Falcon 9?after the second stage failed to land within the designated hazard area. (FAA , September 28)??
• The?National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA)?released Phase 1.0 of the?Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS)?on September 30 to support space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic coordination. (OSC , September 30)?
• The?USSF?released the “Commander’s Strategic Guidance” with priorities including ensuring combat readiness and supporting combatant commands in the current “era of Great Power Competition.” (USSF , October 1)??
• USSF Chief of Space Operations General B. Chance Saltzman?released the “Military Space Operations Terms of Reference,” defining key terms and mission areas within the three core functions, Space Control, Global Mission Operations, and Space Access of the USSF. (Breaking Defense , October 2)??

International Space Policy Updates

• The U.S. and?India?reaffirmed the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership, and discussed the establishment of a new semiconductor fabrication plant with collaboration from the U.S. Space Force (White House , September 21)
• ?President Biden?and the?Prime Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan? reaffirmed commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and plan on continuing utilizing space-related data and applications to assist Indo-Pacific countries. (White House , September 21) ?
• NASA?and the?Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA)?signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in space science, exploration, and aeronautics. (NASA , September 23)?
• The U.S. and the?United Arab Emirates (UAE)?reaffirmed a strategic partnership in deep space exploration and human spaceflight. (White House , September 23)?
• During the 25th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, the?Republic of Korea (ROK)?and the?Department of Defense (DoD)?commended the work of the Space Cooperation Working group. Both parties welcomed further collaboration in space to increase space domain awareness and to strengthen joint capabilities. (DoD , September 24)??
• The?Canadian Space Agency (CSA) published a report entitled “The State of the Canadian Space Sector Report 2023,” highlighting the Canadian space sector contributed $3.2 billion to GDP in 2022 and grew the space workforce by 8.6 percent. (Government of Canada , September 24)??
• The inaugural?European Union (EU)?defense and space commissioner is former Lithuanian Prime Minister,?Adrius Kubilius. (Politico , September 24)??
• Russia?has signed deals with?Mali,?Niger, and?Burkina Faso?to provide them with telecommunication and surveillance satellites. (BBC , September 24)?
• The?China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)?released the spacesuit design for its upcoming crewed Lunar missions. (SpaceNews , September 29)??
• Secretary of State Anthony Blinken?noted increasing concerns over?Russia’s?sharing of ‘space information’ and providing nuclear aid to?Iran. (NYT , September 30)?
• ESA?released its Earth Observation Science Strategy which adopts a “science-driven approach” to understanding the interconnectedness of on Earth systems and the impacts of human activity. (ESA , September 30)??
• The?Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)?released a report entitled “Gold Rush: The 2024 Commercial Remote Sensing Global Rankings.” The report ranked?China’s?commercial remote sensing systems and capabilities ahead of the U.S., recommending the U.S. government strategically invest in commercial companies. (CSIS , October 1)??

Space Industry Updates

• The?USSF Space Systems Command (SSC)?awarded?Astranis, Axient, L3 Harris,?and?Sierra Space?agreements to produce design concepts for resilient GPS programs. (USSF , September 23)
• NASA awarded?Firefly Aerospace?a contract with a maximum value of $300 million over a five-year period to provide launch support for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) QuickSounder mission. (NASA , September 23)?
• The?EDGE Group?launched its new space company FADA to support the UAE’s space sector through a self-reliant satellite manufacturing and assembly service. (EDGE Group , September 23)
• Leidos?joined the?Lunar Dawn?team and is working with MDA Space, General Motors, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to produce a human-rated lunar rover. (Business Wire , September 24
• Maxar Intelligence?announced a new headquarters for International Government business located in London. (Maxar , September 24)?
• Viasat?was awarded a $33.6 million contract with options from the?U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)?to develop Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antennas for resilient communication. (Viasat , September 24)? ?
• Radian Aerospace, a U.S. company, conducted prototype tests for its single-stage reusable spaceplane in the?United Arab Emirates (UAE). (PR Newswire , September 25)?
• ispace-U.S.?opened the Summit Mission Control Center (MCC) at its headquarters in Colorado to support the company’s lunar operations. (ispace , September 25)?
• NASA awarded?Starfish Space?a contract to complete the Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) mission, a space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) inspection program. (NASA , September 25)?
• The USSF awarded?Anduril?a $25.3 million contract to enhance communication and data integration for the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). (SpaceNews , September 28)
• Space42, a UAE company, debuted on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. (MSN , October 1)?

Space Leader Spotlight

Colonel Nick Hague

This week’s space leader is?Colonel Nick Hague , U.S. Space Force (USSF) Guardian and NASA astronaut. On September 28, Col. Hague was the first Guardian launched into space as part of the NASA SpaceX Crew-9 mission.??

Most recently, Col. Hague contributed to the Boeing Starliner Program beginning in August 2022. Prior to that, Col. Hague served as the Director of Test and Evaluation, overseeing the development of the USSF test workforce, infrastructure, and operations at the Department of Defense from 2020 to 2022. Col. Hague was selected as a NASA astronaut in June 2013 and completed astronaut training in July 2015. As an astronaut, Col. Hague launched on Expeditions 59 and 60 to the International Space Station from March to October of 2019.??

Col Hague started his service in 1998 commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to the Air Force. Two years later, he was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico working on spacecraft technologies. He was a member of the Air Force until 2021, when he voluntarily transferred to serve as a Guardian. Col. Hague served in many capacities during his tenure in the Air Force. Notably, he served for five months in Iraq conducting airborne reconnaissance to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, advised the U.S. Senate on defense and national security matters as an Air Force Fellow in 2009, and was the Deputy Division Chief for research and development in the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in 2012.?

For his accomplishments and service, Col. Hague has been awarded medals including a NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Bravery Medal, and two Legion of Merit Medals.?

In 1998, Col. Hague earned a Bachelor of Science in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy. In 2000, he earned a Master of Science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We thank Col. Hague for his service and congratulate him for being the first Guardian launched into space.??

Reading Corner?

The European Space Policy Institute?|?A Party for Everyone? Analysing International Efforts in Space Debris Mitigation ?

The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) released a report entitled “A Party for Everyone? Analysing International Efforts in Space Debris Mitigation.” The report found an increase in global efforts towards space sustainability and safety, including efforts led by industry and non-governmental organizations. The ESPI examined 15 different space debris mitigation instruments from 2002 to 2023. Rising trends in this realm include the enactment of sustainability plans and considerations of new protected regions. Key considerations moving forward include the enacting of guidelines to help codify future regulations, opportunities for Europe to lead consolidated space debris mitigation efforts, and the utilization of a multi-actor model in policymaking. ?

Questions or Comments for the Space Foundation Team??Contact Us?

Written by?Molly Prochaska, ?Chantal Li , and?Amanda Nguyen.

Image credits: NASA, ESPI

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