Skip to content

NOVEMBER 2023

 

NOVEMBER 2023
ACSP NEWSLETTER

Editor-in-Chief: Will Lewis
Managing Editor: Morgan McKelvey

SPACE FORCE

Space Force Looks to Enhance In-Space Capabilities

 

  • The Space Force recently announced the winners in its recent Hyperspace Challenge accelerator. The Space Force selected companies that focused on imaging, autonomy, and propulsion. Space Force officials put the award in context, noting the need for “dynamic space operations.”

 

  • Why it matters to you: This is a signal that Space Force is looking to the private sector to develop new in-space capabilities, those that rely on maneuverability and awareness of the local space environment. The Space Force is undoubtedly worried that some rival nations have developed these capabilities already and are counting on the U.S.commercial space sector to help it keep up.

 

Space Force Expresses Concerns about China in Space

 

  • The Space Force recently raised concerns about Chinese anti-satellite capabilities as well as a lack of transparency in space-related communications. The Space Force seems particularly concerned with how to mitigate the after-effects of future Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons testing or the actual use of an ASAT weapon.

 

  • Why it matters to you: Despite growing concerns about the impact of commercial space operators on orbital debris, governments remain the primary cause of the debris around earth. So private actors should be mindful of any public expressions of concern from one of the two great space powers about the other. However, the concerns about debris fields may offer a glimmer of optimism. As China finishes the first stage of its space station and prepares to launch its own large broadband NGSO constellation, it may have its own reasons to limit the growth of orbital debris and prevent the future use of ASATs.

THE WHITE HOUSE

White House Offers Input to Mission Authorization Legislature

 

  • Why it matters to you: The U.S. government already has a myriad of legal and regulatory requirements for commercial spacecraft to be launched and operated. The White House and the National Space Council are looking to create transparency and streamline the licensing process, but little progress has been made to date. It’s not clear if this proposal would accomplish either goal; an industry group has already come out in opposition to the draft, so it is important for space stakeholders to convey their thoughts to the legislative and executive branches before anything becomes final.

EUROPE

Europe Funding a Sovereign Space Situational Awareness System

 

  • The EU has committed funds to strengthen its sovereign space tracking capabilities, proposing up to 70 million Euros to developing more sophisticated systems for track spacecraft and orbital debris. The EU is hopeful that it will be able to split the burden of space situational awareness (SSA) with the private sector, seeking a “50-50 balance” between commercial and government data.

 

  • Why it matters to you: More space situational awareness data is good, especially if countries are sharing data with other space faring nations to ensure accuracy in the data. It’s particularly encouraging to see that the EU intends to corroborate its data with available commercial information as well. However, as the EU continues to invest in its space infrastructure it bears watching whether the EU also trends towards close collaboration with the U.S., Japan, and India, other countries that have or are developing their own SSA capabilities. Without collaboration, the different data sets could lead to different rules and behavior across the globe that could undermine the intent of these systems in the first place.

KOREA

SpaceRace Heats Up on Korean Peninsula

 

  • The Korean peninsula is rife with national competitions and that competitiveness is coming to space. Both Koreas have space launches this month, North Korea reportedly launched an earth observation (“spy”) satellite on November 21 while South Korea has delayed the launch of its own spy satellite, which was originally scheduled to take off on November 30.

 

  • Why it matters to you: North Korea claims its satellite is already functioning and claims it has already captured images of U.S. military facilities. Meanwhile, South Korea has plans to launch upwards of 5 spy satellites by 2025. Earth observation systems provide militaries with unprecedented views of opposing forces and deployments. The world has seen two bloody, brutal regional wars flare up in the last two years, with another potentially brewing. The Korean Peninsula has technically been at war for more than 70 years and these new space-capabilities could further escalate tensions between the two governments.

WORLD RADIO CONFERENCE 2023

World Radio Conference 2023 Kicks Off

 

  • The World Radio Conference, hosted by the ITU every few years, started in November. The conference will continue into December as the governments of the world debate and negotiate international spectrum policy. At the end of the conference, the attending administrations will vote on which new regulations to adopt and publish and which matters to study over the next four years before WRC-2027. This WRC will address a number of matters important to the commercial space operators including inter-satellite links in C- and Ka-band, the protection of GSO satellite systems by NGSO systems, and competition for status in X-band spectrum with terrestrial stakeholders.

 

  • Why it matters to you: The rules approved at the WRC and promulgated by the ITU are not automatically treated as regulation or law by the nations that approve them. However, many countries, including the U.S., are quick to adopt the rules in most instances. It will be important for space stakeholders to be aware of the developments at the ITU and to understand how they can impact current and future operational plans. Not only will the results of the WRC shape the FCC’s policy, it will impact space spectrum policy across the globe.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS

SPECIAL OFFER FOR ACSP MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS

“A complex regulatory environment, challenging engineering problem-solving, hard to fill jobs that require specialized skills, all in the middle of a climate crisis and a technology revolution driven by artificial intelligence. Space is not for the faint of heart! Success requires resilience and constant learning at the individual and at the enterprise level. And learning is what we at HabilisGlobal do for a living! We are excited to extend this opportunity to ACSP members. We understand the unique challenges you face in developing your leadership and your company, while managing the crazy amount of change going on within and around your business.

Complimentary One-Hour Consultation:

Take advantage of our expertise with a free one-hour consultation tailored to your company’s needs. This is an opportunity for us to understand your company’s challenges and objectives, and provide initial – and actionable – insights.

Exclusive Discount on Your First Project:

To further support your journey towards excellence, we are offering a 20% discount on our consulting fees for your first project with us. Whether you’re navigating organizational change, developing strategic learning initiatives, or enhancing team performance, we are here to guide you.

To claim this offer or learn more about our services, please contact me directly at beatriz@habilisglobal.com.”