Policy & Regulation News

New York Times • Hank Sanders

Starbase, Texas Officially Incorporates as SpaceX Municipality

SpaceX employees and local residents overwhelmingly voted on May 3 to incorporate the Boca Chica community around the company’s South Texas launch site as the city of Starbase. The move grants SpaceX greater autonomy over local governance, infrastructure expansion and housing development for its operations.

2025-05-03T17:59:40.979073-07:00

Payload

Trump’s 2026 “Skinny Budget” Proposes 24% NASA Cut, Axes SLS, Orion, Gateway and Mars Sample Return

2025-05-02T08:40:43.602197-07:00

Skift

American Airlines Sues JetBlue Over Failed Northeast Alliance

2025-04-29T03:54:09.383128-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Nomination Advances to Full Senate

2025-04-30T08:32:17.533564-07:00

Policy & Regulation News Timeline

New York Times

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Starbase, Texas Officially Incorporates as SpaceX Municipality SpaceX employees and local residents overwhelmingly voted on May 3 to incorporate the Boca Chica community around the company’s South Texas launch site as the city of Starbase. The move grants SpaceX greater autonomy over local governance, infrastructure expansion and housing development for its operations.

2025-05-03T17:59:40.979073-07:00

Starbase, Texas Officially Incorporates as SpaceX Municipality

The Conversation

Defining the Astronaut: Private Space Tourism Sparks Debate Over Prestigious Title A surge in private suborbital and orbital flights has reignited questions about who merits the “astronaut” designation. As companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic expand commercial access, regulators, space agencies and industry experts are wrestling with training criteria, mission roles and the prestige attached to the title.

2025-05-03T10:35:09.129806-07:00

Defining the Astronaut: Private Space Tourism Sparks Debate Over Prestigious Title

Reuters

DRC Reverses Ban to Grant Starlink Telecom License, Paving Way for Satellite Internet Rollout The Democratic Republic of Congo’s telecom regulator, ARPTC, has awarded a network and services licence to Starlink DRC S.A., reversing a previous ban. With national internet penetration at roughly 30%, Elon Musk’s satellite broadband service is set to begin operations soon, aiming to bridge connectivity gaps.

2025-05-03T06:42:45.818261-07:00

DRC Reverses Ban to Grant Starlink Telecom License, Paving Way for Satellite Internet Rollout

al.com

US Space Command Nears Move to Huntsville as Space Force General Visits for Documentary Two sources tell FOX54 that, pending Senate confirmation of a new Secretary of the Air Force, US Space Command will relocate its headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Meanwhile, Space Force’s commanding general is in Huntsville filming a documentary to spotlight the branch’s distinct mission.

2025-05-02T19:01:01.214330-07:00

US Space Command Nears Move to Huntsville as Space Force General Visits for Documentary

Financial Times

UK MPs Say Data Protection Rules Ground Military Drones Over Troops Stringent data protection and safety regulations currently bar UK armed forces from flying uncrewed aerial systems directly over their own troops during exercises, MPs warn. They argue the restriction undermines training realism and operator readiness for contested operating environments.

2025-05-02T13:19:43.153741-07:00

UK MPs Say Data Protection Rules Ground Military Drones Over Troops

Air & Space Forces Mag

US Space Force Pushes Industry Towards Targeted AI Use Cases The U.S. Space Force is moving cautiously to integrate artificial intelligence into its operations, urging vendors to propose narrowly defined applications rather than broad, untested concepts. Service leaders emphasize that AI tools must address specific mission needs, aligning with ongoing acquisition reforms and operational priorities.

2025-05-02T13:01:22.047202-07:00

US Space Force Pushes Industry Towards Targeted AI Use Cases

Aerospace America

U.S. Universities Warn of Program Cuts as Trump Budget Proposal Slashes 24% of NASA Science Funding The Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget blueprint would slash NASA funding to $18.8 billion—a 24.3% drop—targeting a $2.3 billion reduction in space science and $1.2 billion in Earth science. Eliminating low-priority climate monitoring satellites and Mars Sample Return activities could force universities to downsize or shutter research programs.

2025-05-02T12:24:43.884980-07:00

U.S. Universities Warn of Program Cuts as Trump Budget Proposal Slashes 24% of NASA Science Funding

canadiangeographic.ca

Canso, Nova Scotia Eyes Spaceport as US Tariffs Reshape Launch Landscape U.S. tariffs on Canadian aerospace imports are creating a window for Canso, Nova Scotia, to develop a spaceport that could provide small satellite launch companies with tariff-free access and streamlined regulatory pathways to U.S. markets, leveraging the region’s maritime geography and existing infrastructure.

2025-05-02T10:44:34.987485-07:00

Canso, Nova Scotia Eyes Spaceport as US Tariffs Reshape Launch Landscape

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