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JANUARY 2024

 

 

JANUARY 2024
ACSP NEWSLETTER

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

SPACE REGULATORY BOOTCAMP IS ALMOST HERE!
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FCC

FCC Releases New ISAM Rulemaking

  • The FCC released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for In-space Servicing and Manufacturing applications on January 25. The rulemaking is a follow up to the previous Notice of Inquiry and the Commission frequently refers to how the previous comments informed the rules proposed in the NPRM. The NPRM touches on significant elements of ISAM policy, including ISAM-specific application rules, spectrum use and orbital debris mitigation. 
  • Why it matters to you: If you are an ISAM operator, this rulemaking will shape the future of how ISAMs are licensed through the FCC. It is critical for stakeholders to weigh in on the FCC’s proposals and advocate for their interests. But this is also a meaningful proceeding for the entire space industry. While ISAMs are a small portion of the industry, the issues raised here, particularly those related to inter-satellite links, orbital debris, and spectrum allocations, may be of interest to a much broader swath of the industry.

TRACCS

Independent Review of Space Traffic Control System

  • NOAA has convened a review board to provide their informed feedback on the development of OSC’s Traffic Coordination System for Space (TRACCS). The board, staffed with people that purportedly have experience with space traffic coordination, has a mandate to help OSC avoid missteps or pitfalls as it develops TRACCS. 
  • Why it matters to you: This board will guide the development of TRACCs, which will eventually provide “basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and services to civil and private space operators.” However, despite TRACCS being designed for commercial space, there are no representatives from the commercial space industry on the review board. Instead, the board is staffed with former military, an academic and a representative of a non-profit. Commercial stakeholders should monitor these developments closely to make sure private operators have a say in the space traffic management system being designed for private spacecraft.

LUNAR LANDINGS

Land of the Rising Moon (Japan Lands on Lunar Surface)

  • SLIM, a Japanese lunar lander, successfully touched down on the moon. The lander deactivated on landing but has since reactivated and started its mission. This makes Japan the fifth nation to land on the moon, marking the second time in less than a year that a new country has joined this exclusive club. 
  • Why it matters to you: Five countries on the moon means five stakeholders in lunar spectrum. It’s a bit less muddled than what we have on earth but stakes have been put in the ground. As the ITU tries to tackle spectrum use on the moon governments and industry are moving forward without an established consensus. Given the narrow pathways for communicating from the moon to earth, the more crowded the moon gets, the more likely harmful interference could become an issue.

THE SPACE RACE

Defense Department Points to Rising Tensions in Space

  • The Commander of Space Operations Command spoke about actions taken by China and Russia in space in 2021 that have created long-lasting instability. The U.S. is concerned that the willingness and ability to cause destruction in space may only be a prelude to more aggressive actions. Alternatively, China has accused the U.S. of overstating the threat it poses as an excuse to further build up its space defense capabilities. 
  • Why it matters to you: Events in space can and do have an impact to other space stakeholders. The Russian ASAT test referenced above has left thousands of pieces of orbital debris circling the earth. More tests of space weapons, a possible result of a further rise in tension between space powers, could have real consequences for on-orbit operators even if open hostilities never break out. Commercial operators, particularly those in LEO, must therefore monitor the geopolitical situation in space to understand what risks it may present to their missions.

 

India Announces Record Investment in Space Startups

  • India’s commercial space company saw record investments in 2023. On the heels of ISRO’s lunar success and the Indian government’s attempt to boost the private sector’s role in its space policy, Indian investors have thrown their support behind new Indian space companies.
  • Why it matters to you: The U.S. commercial space sector dwarves India’s but saw a decline in investment from 2021 to 2022. Investments were on track to sink even lower in 2023 although we have not yet seen the final numbers. So while India’s commercial space sector remains relatively small and nascent, its growth during a period that saw investments in space slow elsewhere, speaks to the momentum in India for commercial space. Just about any industry-wide valuation should be taken with a grain of salt but India, with its demographic and human capital strengths, could create significant competition for the U.S. space industry in the decades ahead.

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