Welcome to the first edition of The Overview: a summary of the most important news and developments in space from October to December 2022, with insights curated by our team at the Center for Space Governance.
October
Hilton to design astronaut suites and facilities for Voyager’s private space station Starlab: Hilton has partnered with space technology company Voyager Space Holdings and aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin to design astronaut facilities for the forthcoming Starlab private space station. The hotel giant will create hospitality suites and sleeping arrangements, as well as examine marketing opportunities for the space station and astronaut experiences onboard. Starlab will be built to be as flexible as possible, with the design capable of having three modules attached together. The first Starlab is expected to be operational in low Earth orbit as early as 2027. (September 19th, CNBC)
UK commits not to destructively test direct ascent anti-satellite missiles: The UK government has said it will not carry out destructive tests on direct ascent anti-satellite missiles (DA-ASAT) in a move aimed at promoting responsible behavior in space. It said such testing posed a threat to space systems and could create dangerous debris. The UK is leading a debate at the United Nations on responsible behavior in space and has established an open-ended working group to make recommendations on norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviors relating to threats to space systems by states. (October 3rd, UK Government)
Ariane 6 second stage breathes fire: The European Space Agency (ESA)’s next-gen Ariane 6 launch vehicle has successfully completed its first hot fire test of a complete second stage, conducted by DLR and prime contractor ArianeGroup on 5 October. The firing start is the first in a series of hot fire tests that are required to qualify the Ariane 6 upper stage, with a minimum of three additional tests to be performed before the stage is fit for flight. (October 7th, Payload)
Biden administration clamps down on China’s access to chip technology: The White House has introduced sweeping restrictions on semiconductor sales to China in a move designed to weaken Chinese access to technologies essential to its military and economic ambitions. The restrictions will limit the supply of advanced computing chips and other products to China unless companies receive a special license, most of which will be denied. The rules also impose broad international restrictions on companies anywhere in the world selling chips used in artificial intelligence and supercomputing in China if they are made with U.S. technology, software, or machinery. (October 7th, New York Times)
NASA confirms DART mission impact changed asteroid’s motion in space: NASA has announced that its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft has successfully altered an asteroid’s orbit, marking the first time humanity has purposely changed the motion of a celestial object. DART’s intentional collision with Dimorphos on 26 September altered the asteroid's orbit around Didymos by 32 minutes, shortening its orbit from 11 hours and 55 minutes to 11 hours and 23 minutes. NASA is aiming to use the DART technology to help protect Earth from potential asteroid collisions. (October 11th, NASA)
Biden-Harris administration’s National Security Strategy: The Biden administration has released its National Security Strategy, outlining how it plans to advance U.S. interests and pursue a free, open, prosperous and secure world. The strategy is rooted in national interests, including protecting the security of Americans, expanding economic opportunity and defending democratic values. The U.S. will invest in the sources and tools of American power and influence, build coalitions of nations to enhance collective influence and modernize and strengthen the military. The U.S. will also pursue an affirmative agenda to advance peace and security and prosperity in every region. (October 12th, White House)
Space Force to refuel GEO satellite with Orbit Fab tanker: The U.S .Space Force (USSF) has become one of the first customers of Orbit Fab, a gas station in space, after the company won a $13.3m contract to fuel military satellites starting in 2025. Orbit Fab will provide hydrazine propellant to at least one Space Force satellite in geostationary orbit under the four-year contract. The deal is expected to boost the credibility of Orbit Fab’s services on the commercial market, according to Jeremy Schiel, the company’s co-founder and chief development officer. (October 13th, Payload)
Slovakia becomes an ESA Associate Member state: The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed an Association Agreement with Slovakia, making it an associate member. The agreement replaces the European Cooperating State Agreement, which became active in 2016. Slovakia has been involved in the space industry for many years, with its contributions including involvement in major international missions such as Rosetta, BepiColombo and the Jupiter icy moons explorer Juice, as well as the development of the skCUBE satellite. The country is also a member of the EU’s Galileo and Copernicus programmes. (October 13th, ESA)
Russia warns West: We can target your commercial satellites: Commercial satellites from the U.S. and its allies could become legitimate targets for Russia if they are involved in the war in Ukraine, according to Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of Russia’s foreign ministry. Vorontsov told the United Nations that the use of Western satellites to aid the Ukrainian war effort was an “extremely dangerous trend” and that “quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike”. The war in Ukraine has so far killed tens of thousands of people and triggered the gravest confrontation with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis. (October 27th, Reuters)
November
Australia bans direct-ascent ASAT testing: Australia has pledged not to conduct any destructive anti-satellite tests, joining the U.S.-led initiative that aims to create a safer orbital environment. The global space community has widely decried anti-satellite tests as dangerous, as the debris clouds created by such tests can remain in orbit for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and jeopardize the long-term sustainability of outer space. To date, only the U.S., China, Russia, and India have conducted anti-satellite demonstrations. (November 2nd, Payload)
FCC announces Space Bureau: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to split its International Bureau into two separate offices: one for international affairs and another for space. The Space Bureau will help the FCC better allocate resources as the satellite industry grows, processing the 64,000 applications received in the past two years while the International Bureau has been responsible for licensing any satellite that transmits data within the United States. The FCC also recently revised its debris mitigation policy, and the Space Bureau will double down on these new responsibilities. (November 7th, Payload)
NATO Secretary General warns of growing cyber threat: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned of the growing threat from cyberspace, highlighting recent attacks on satellites, critical infrastructure, and government departments. Speaking ahead of the alliance’s 2022 Cyber Defence Pledge Conference in Rome, Stoltenberg called on member states to recommit to boosting cyber defenses, saying the line between peace, crisis and conflict in cyberspace is blurred. The pledge, agreed at NATO’s Warsaw Summit in 2016, has seen allies increase investment in cyber defense. (November 10th, NATO)
UK and UN join forces in using space to tackle climate change: The UK Space Agency and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs have launched a new project to review existing activity on climate action through the use of space technologies. The aim is to map existing work and identify opportunities to increase policy coherence across the multilateral system and relevant international organizations. The review is due to start in December and intends to provide a detailed overview of space-based climate activities undertaken by both UN and non-UN entities. The majority of the UK Space Agency’s IPP projects support climate action. (November 10th, UK Government)
NASA’s Artemis 1 mission heads to the moon: NASA has launched the Artemis I mission, which is a demonstration of its lunar program. The mission saw the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion capsule into space, which will orbit the moon before returning to Earth in 26 days. The mission represents a crucial inflection point in NASA’s moon plans, with the program delayed for years and running billions of dollars over budget. (November 16th, CNBC)
First National Cislunar Science & Technology Strategy: The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has released the first National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy, outlining how U.S. science and technology leadership can support the responsible and sustainable exploration and use of Cislunar space. The strategy focuses on four key objectives: research and development, international cooperation, space situational awareness, and communication and positioning. With human activity in Cislunar space expected to increase over the next decade, the strategy aims to position the U.S. as a leader in space exploration, science, and sustainability. (November 17th, White House)
Philippine commander says China seized space debris: China has been accused of forcibly seizing a large piece of metal, believed to be space debris, from the Philippines’ navy, which was towing it through the South China Sea. The incident occurred before U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to the Philippines. The UN’s 1968 “Rescue Agreement” states that if a space object lands in the territory of another state, the affected state is obliged to recover and retrieve the object at the request of the launching authority, with the launching state responsible for costs. (November 22nd, Payload)
Ministers back ESA’s bold ambitions for space with record 17% rise: The European Space Agency (ESA) has received a budget increase of 17% at its latest Ministerial meeting, compared to its 2019 meeting. Representatives of the ESA’s member and cooperating states attended the Paris meeting and agreed to strengthen the region’s ambitions regarding space exploration. Funding will be allocated to projects including climate change monitoring, securing communication and navigation, and rapid responses to crises. The European Space Agency will also advance scientific understanding, retain talent and ensure that space-based services are secure. (November 23rd, ESA)
South Korean leader eyes “landing on moon in 2032, Mars in 2045”: South Korea has set out its space exploration goals, with plans to launch a robotic spacecraft to the moon in 2032 and to reach Mars by 2045. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced the country will double its space development budget in the next five years and invest at least KRW100tn ($74.7bn) into the sector by 2045. To reach these goals, a national space agency, the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), will be launched next year. At present, state-funded space programmes are scattered across various departments and agencies. (November 29th, SpaceNews)
December
Pentagon establishes Office of Strategic Capital: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has established the Office of Strategic Capital, a new entity that will enable the Pentagon to work more closely with private capital. The OSC will use loans and loan guarantees to help tech companies meet their capital needs, with the aim of driving U.S. innovation and boosting its security and prosperity. The DoD hopes to begin closing deals by early 2023. (December 2nd, Payload)
U.S. Space Force chief: The use of space technology in Ukraine ‘is what we can expect in the future’: The chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, General Saltzman, has said that the war in Ukraine has shown the growing reliance of military forces on satellites and created an incentive to disrupt opponents’ access to space systems. Saltzman added that the conflict has proven the value of space and made it clear that space is now a contested domain. The U.S. Space Force is working on deploying newer types of satellites and training operators for the contested space environment. (December 4th, SpaceNews)
Starshield: Supporting National Security: SpaceX has launched a new service called Starshield, which uses the company’s Starlink technology to offer secured satellite networks for government entities. The service will provide national security efforts with a focus on earth observation, communications and hosted payloads. The satellites will be capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users. The network will also be able to host classified payloads and process data securely, meeting the most demanding government requirements. (December 5th, SpaceX)
Artemis I splashes down: NASA’s Artemis I mission, which aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, has successfully completed its first phase with a 26-day journey around the moon and back again. The Orion capsule landed in the Pacific Ocean after completing two lunar flybys. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called it a “huge win” for the agency, the US, international partners, and humanity. Artemis II, which will test life-support systems, is scheduled for 2024, with the first crewed lunar landing planned for 2025. (December 12th, Payload)
Lawmakers release FY23 Defense Bill: Congress has released a defense bill with $858bn in topline funding, marking a 10% increase over last year’s funding. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets funding levels and policies for the Pentagon, and the 2023 bill contains a $333m boost for the Space Force’s $4.97bn funding request, bringing the total to $5.3bn. The NDAA also expands the tactically responsive space programme and calls for closer USSF oversight, as well as directing the Pentagon to make a final call on exempting the Space Development Agency from JCIDS requirements. (December 12th, Payload)
UN General Assembly approves ASAT test ban resolution: The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for a halt to destructive testing of direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. The resolution is largely symbolic, but shows support for broader space sustainability initiatives. It calls on countries to halt direct-ascent ASAT weapons testing, citing concerns that it leads to large amounts of debris that threaten the safety of other satellites. However, the resolution is non-binding and does not require countries to halt testing. Since the U.S. announced it would refrain from direct-ascent ASAT tests earlier this year, nine other countries have made similar pledges. (December 13th, SpaceNews)
FCC aims to speed up license approvals: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will discuss proposed revisions to its satellite licensing procedures as part of its Space Innovation agenda, following a notice last month aimed at cutting red tape around licensing. The move follows the National Space Council’s drive to streamline the process for U.S. companies to fly in non-geostationary orbits, focusing on LEO. The FCC will discuss applications for firms that seek to operate in frequency bands without international allocation. Two bills have also been introduced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee targeting the licensing process. (December 13th, Payload)
U.S. national security space strategy emphasizes resilient systems, responsible behavior: The U.S. Department of Defense has completed a space strategy that underscores the need to deploy resilient constellations that can operate under attack and support norms for responsible behavior in space, according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb. The strategy is classified and will not be publicly released, Plumb said. The guidance to the DoD is to “protect and defend our national security interests” against adversaries’ counterspace capabilities, while other priorities include building a resilient national security space architecture and leading in the responsible and peaceful use of space. (December 14th, SpaceNews)
National In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) Implementation Plan: The White House has released a National In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) Implementation Plan to advance the US’s strategic vision outlined in the first-ever ISAM National Strategy. The development of ISAM capabilities represents the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to scientific and technological innovation, economic growth, and international collaboration in space. ISAM capabilities have the potential to open new possibilities for U.S. commercial industry and American workers to build, repair, and transport objects in space. The Biden-Harris Administration is coordinating civil, commercial, and national security space efforts to implement ISAM capabilities to strengthen U.S. leadership. (December 16th, White House)
Fiscal year 2023 omnibus bill provides $25.4 billion for NASA: NASA has been allocated $25.4bn in the U.S. fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending bill, an increase of more than 5% from 2022 but less than NASA had requested. The bill includes $90m for the Near Earth Object Surveyor mission, which searches for potentially hazardous objects. The amount provided for NASA is a 5.6% increase over the $24.041bn the agency was allocated in fiscal year 2022. Science overall gets $7.795bn in the bill, nearly $200m below the request. Planetary science and heliophysics get slightly more than requested, while astrophysics, Earth science and biological and physics sciences suffer cuts. (December 20th, SpaceNews)
Senate passes orbit debris cleanup bill: The Senate has passed the Orbital Sustainability (ORBITS) Act, legislation that would direct NASA to establish a program to remove space debris. The bill would direct NASA to work with other government agencies and the private sector to identify the objects that pose the greatest immediate risk to the safety and sustainability of orbiting satellites and in-orbit activities. The bill would require NASA to establish an active debris removal remediation program and make awards for the development of relevant technologies, as well as allow NASA and other agencies to acquire space debris removal services. (December 23rd, SpaceNews)
Congress adds $1.7 billion for U.S. Space Force in 2023 spending bill: The U.S. Congress has approved $26.3bn in funding for the U.S. Space Force, nearly $1.7bn more than the Pentagon had requested, as part of a $1.7tn government spending package for the rest of the fiscal year ending 30 September 2023. The Space Force will use the funds to buy new satellites, with more than $500m of the additional budget going to the Space Development Agency to acquire hundreds of low Earth orbit satellites to track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The package also includes $442m for a wideband communications satellite and $50m for a tactically responsive space programme. (December 24th, SpaceNews)
China looks to build space partnerships with Gulf nations: China is seeking to work more closely with emerging space nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to President Xi Jinping. Speaking at the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, Xi said the country would like to collaborate with the GCC states on remote sensing, communications satellites, space utilization, aerospace infrastructure and the selection and training of astronauts. He also welcomed GCC astronauts to China’s Tiangong space station for joint missions and science experiments, as well as GCC participation in payloads cooperation in China’s aerospace missions. (December 30th, SpaceNews)