Akin Space Law, Regulation and Policy Update | October 4, 2024

It has been another busy two weeks in space law and policy! SpaceX delivered a new crew (including the first Space Force Guardian in orbit) and two empty seats to the ISS. Meanwhile, back on earth, the U.S. Congress keeps the government funded (for a while), NASA voiced concerns about the aging space station’s health and the agency’s lack of redundant systems, and the FCC opened up more spectrum for Starlink and other non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) operators. At the UN General Assembly in New York, leaders took steps to stave off a space arms race and strengthen international frameworks governing outer space. Meanwhile, at another international conference, Russia let world know it sees commercial sats used in military operations as “legitimate targets.”

All this and more in this edition of the Space Law, Regulation and Policy Update.