Space Policy

The new space race is a pressing issue that is in humanity’s best interest to solve. by Rebecca Schembri, Social Scientist and Space Diplomat @rebeccafromreno The Outer Space Treaty (OST) is outdated; it does not meet the demands of modern technology. Such technology allows us to assume that humans will live on the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and in free and deep space in the coming years…

by Rebecca Schembri, science communicator @rebeccafromreno Did you know that if you travel far enough into outer space, you can theoretically look at Earth through a telescope and see the dinosaurs who once roamed our planet? …

Gone are the days when only NASA astronauts went to space. Now the whole world is needed. by Rebecca Schembri, science communicator @rebeccafromreno Beginning this generation, space migration — humans relocating to space — is a real scenario for humanity. Not only is spacecraft propulsion becoming an everyday thing, the science for life support systems and space habitats has modernized. Many companies have plans for lunar living…

Massive commercial and government investment in space has created a gap between individual participant decision-making and best practices for the space ecosystem. —

The ability to swap satellites into predefined launch configurations will provide more launch options and faster access to space. — For developers of mid-sized small satellites, the biggest hurdle is not building the satellite but launching these devices into space. A small satellite developer typically designs a customized satellite solution, then figures out a launch that meets their requirements. Once the launch is determined, the solution may be expensive, complicated…

Space policy is the political decision-making process for and application of a state’s public policy regarding space flights and uses of outer space, for civil and military purposes. It sets out a nation’s commitment to leading in the constructive and responsible use of space, promoting a robust commercial space industry…

A Long March 5B rocket body, used to deliver the Mengtian module to China’s new space station on Oct. 31 is now in an uncontrolled descent, raising some challenging policy questions about good behavior in space. —

Our space debris expert is back with answers about the giant rocket stage left behind after the Oct. 31 Long March 5B Launch. — On April 29, 2021, China launched the first module, Tianhe, of its Tiangong space station on their heaviest rocket to date, the Long March 5B. The rocket body traveled with the module to orbit, resulting in an uncontrolled reentry of the rocket’s core stage. …

The Second Annual USSPACECOM Legal Conference on Responsible Behavior in Outer Space finally addressed the elephant in the room — international humanitarian law is moot, ineffective, and thus has no clear direction for space law and policy. At the final panel for the non-classified sessions, Senior Legal Counsel Perspectives on…