Policy & Regulation News

Space.com

Trump asserts U.S. right to develop and settle the solar system under American law

In an election-night proclamation, President Trump described space as a frontier for all humanity while declaring “American space superiority for all eternity.” He asserted a U.S. right to develop and settle the solar system under American law, placing national authority at the center of his vision for space.

Skift

FTC seeks details on airline fare-setting methods, giving companies 45 days to respond

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking information from airlines about how they set fares, putting airline pricing under renewed scrutiny. The companies have 45 days to respond, according to the article summary; it does not specify which airlines received the requests or what pricing practices the FTC is examining.

SpaceNews.com

High activity

ITU rulings expose varied standards for force majeure in satellite deadline extensions

Decisions involving South Korea’s Kompsat-6 radar Earth-observation mission, Thailand’s Thaicom-9 telecommunications satellite and Oman’s Omansat show how the International Telecommunication Union is handling requests to extend satellite deployment deadlines. The cases span different orbit and mission profiles, including Oman’s use of an untested orbital transfer vehicle.

SpaceNews.com

Open Cosmos Ka-band filing capped at 52 satellites

Flying Magazine

High activity

DOT inspector general to audit FAA oversight of helicopter tours and a Part 91 regulatory loophole

The Transportation Department’s inspector general will examine how the FAA oversees commercial helicopter tours and whether it knew of a regulatory loophole allowing some operations under Part 91. The audit follows a history of accidents involving helicopter tours and will assess the agency’s safety oversight.

ch-aviation

Luxembourg’s Jetfly Aviation applies for U.S. foreign air carrier permit

Luxembourg-based Jetfly Aviation has applied for a U.S. foreign air carrier permit (FACP). The application is a regulatory step toward obtaining authority to conduct covered operations in the United States; the available report does not specify the proposed services or whether the permit has been granted.

Payload

Election 2026: Space winners, losers and what comes next

The election has reshaped the political landscape for the U.S. space sector. This analysis examines which space interests emerged as winners or losers and what the results could mean for the next phase of policy and industry priorities.

New York Times

High activity

Democratic midterm gains put defense spending and SpaceX under new scrutiny

Democrats’ midterm gains shifted control of congressional committees responsible for NASA funding and Space Force oversight, raising the prospect of closer scrutiny for SpaceX and defense spending. In Texas, the electoral shift also puts deals Elon Musk struck with the state at risk, while defense stocks fell on spending concerns.