FAA proposes waiving 13 environmental laws for launch and reentry licensing
The FAA formally published its proposal to waive 13 federal laws, including NEPA, for launch and reentry licensing.
news / regulatory
FAA finalizes environmental review for expanded SpaceX Starship reentry zones
The FAA issued a final environmental finding clearing wider SpaceX Starship reentry and splashdown zones in the Pacific.
SpaceX urges FCC to sunset $4.5 billion rural broadband fund
SpaceX urged the FCC to sunset its High-Cost rural subsidy fund as 'rent-seeking'; rural ISPs' trade group objected.
House panel advances bill to fast-track FCC satellite licensing
The House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecom subcommittee advanced the SAT Streamlining Act, per CCIA.
SpaceX asks FCC to block or restrict Viasat's Viasat-3 F2 satellite
SpaceX petitioned the FCC to reconsider its Viasat-3 F2 grant, saying uncoordinated transmissions would interfere with Starlink terminals.
SpaceX asks FCC to scrutinize Iridium's conduct in Rocket Lab merger review
SpaceX urged the FCC to examine Iridium's history of anticompetitive filings as regulators review Rocket Lab's proposed Iridium acquisition.
UAE regulator grants Starlink 10-year satellite internet license
The UAE's TDRA granted Starlink Satellite Communications a 10-year license to provide satellite broadband nationwide.
TraCSS stays in pilot mode, commercial SSA data buys on hold
OSC's acting TraCSS program manager says the space-traffic system remains in pilot mode and commercial SSA data purchases stay on hold.
White House sets 1,000-launch-a-year goal in new national space policy
The White House sets a 1,000-launch-a-year goal and the FAA opens two implementation RFIs with an Oct. 26 comment deadline.
FAA seeks input on new US spaceport sites and launch corridors
The FAA requested input on siting new spaceports and priority launch corridors as launch forecasts near 10,000 a year.
Iran reports 163 arrests, nearly 1,000 Starlink devices seized in four months
Iranian police say they arrested 163 people and seized 997 unauthorized Starlink terminals between March and July 2026.
Starlink reapplies for India Gen 2 satellite constellation approval
SpaceX's Starlink filed a fresh Gen 2 constellation application with India's IN-SPACe after regulators rejected its first bid.
Office of Space Commerce opens pilot for new mission-authorization framework
OSC's new pilot invites companies to apply for one streamlined authorization path for novel in-space activities.
Starlink starts taking orders in Vietnam under a 600,000-subscriber cap
SpaceX opened Starlink orders in Vietnam under a five-year pilot that caps the service at 600,000 subscribers.
Texas broadband office pauses BEAD fund disbursements amid Starlink favoritism claims
Texas paused over $3 billion in BEAD broadband disbursements after lawmakers accused the state broadband office of favoring Starlink.
FCC Space Bureau chief Jay Schwarz steps down, deputy takes over
Jennifer Gilsenan becomes acting FCC Space Bureau chief as Jay Schwarz retires after 18 months leading the bureau, per SpaceNews.
FCC proposes opening unlicensed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth bands to satellites
FCC proposes letting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and IoT devices link directly to satellites across 225+ MHz of unlicensed spectrum.
FCC votes to open unlicensed spectrum for direct-to-device satellite links
The FCC unanimously adopted a rulemaking exploring ~200 MHz of unlicensed Wi-Fi and IoT spectrum for direct-to-device satellite service.
Senate passes bill to create Commerce Dept space industry advisory panel
The Senate passed Sen. Gary Peters' bill requiring Commerce to set up a panel advising on commercial space policy.
Xona secures FCC spectrum approval for 250-satellite navigation network
The FCC authorized Xona to broadcast commercial navigation signals for its planned 250-satellite Pulsar constellation.
FCC approves second C-band auction, clearing 160 MHz of satellite spectrum
The FCC voted to auction 160 MHz of upper C-band spectrum for 5G by July 2027, forcing satellite operators to relocate.
SpaceX wins FCC exemption for Starlink routers from foreign-router ban
The FCC exempted SpaceX's Starlink routers from its foreign-router ban, granting conditional approval through February 2028.
Amazon Leo files FCC application for 5,105-satellite D2D constellation
Amazon Leo asked the FCC to license 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device service on Globalstar spectrum, starting 2028.
Eutelsat files with FCC for new 528-satellite Next LEO constellation
Eutelsat asked the FCC for US market access for a planned 528-satellite Next constellation alongside its existing OneWeb fleet.
FCC adopts satellite licensing overhaul, creates 'assembly line' review
The FCC voted to replace Part 25 with Part 100, calling it a 'licensing assembly line' for satellite operators.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan exempts satellite operators from foreign-ownership caps
Taiwan eases foreign-ownership caps for satellite operators, opening a path for Starlink's entry.
House Intelligence Committee advances bill limiting commercial EO imagery sharing
A House Intelligence Committee bill would let the government block commercial EO operators from sharing sensitive imagery.
Reliance Jio's sovereign LEO constellation plan clears technical review
IN-SPACe, ISRO and DoT's WPC wing reportedly found Jio's 1,600-satellite plan "on par" with Starlink; neither party has confirmed it.
Japan sets goal of 30 orbital launches a year by early 2030s
Japan's National Space Policy Secretariat targets 30 launches yearly by the early 2030s, per SpaceNews.
Office of Space Commerce defends licensing framework as Congress questions TraCSS cuts
OSC's director defended a novel-activity licensing plan before a House panel as the White House proposed an 80% cut to TraCSS funding.
UK Space Agency previews strategy framed around growth and security
UK Space Agency director Rebecca Evernden says a new national space strategy is coming 'in the coming weeks.'
FAA closes Starship Flight 12 mishap investigation, clears Flight 13
The FAA closed its investigation into May's Starship booster failure and cleared SpaceX for Flight 13 as soon as July 16.
SpaceX asks FCC to license 100,000-satellite Gen3 fleet
SpaceX filed with the FCC for up to 100,000 Gen3 Starlink satellites framed around AI-scale connectivity demand, per trade coverage.
Marcia Smith says UNOOSA satellite-registration outage is a governance failure
Per Marcia Smith: UNOOSA's months-long halt on public satellite registrations is "a failure of the international space governance regime."
Reflect Orbital wins first FCC approval for sunlight-reflecting satellite
The FCC approved Reflect Orbital's Eärendil-1 test satellite, which will reflect sunlight to Earth after dark.
BOEM seeks input on using offshore oil platforms for rocket launches
The Interior Department's BOEM opened a comment period on repurposing offshore oil rigs and new platforms for rocket launch and re-entry.
Earthjustice petitions FCC to pause orbital data center licensing
An Earthjustice-led coalition asked the FCC to complete a full environmental review before licensing any orbital data center satellites.
CesiumAstro files for 737-satellite Synchronicity fleet
CesiumAstro asked the FCC to license its own 737-satellite Synchronicity constellation for reconfigurable connectivity.
China names 271 members of state-backed commercial space consortium
SASTIND published the first roster of China's commercial space innovation consortium, naming 271 organizations across nine groups.
Expace · CAS Space · China Rocket · Landspace · iSpace · Galactic Energy · Orienspace · Space Pioneer · Shanghai Spacesail Satellite Technology · GalaxySpace · Chang Guang Satellite Technology2 sources →
SpaceX beach closures at Boca Chica survive as Texas Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit
The court ruled unanimously that the beach-access amendment gives no private right to sue, ending the 2021 state case.
IN-SPACe opens ISRO's LVM3 heavy-lift rocket to private industry via technology transfer
Per GKToday: IN-SPACe invited Expressions of Interest for private companies to manufacture, operate and commercialise LVM3.
SpaceX Starbase land swap challenged in federal court by conservation groups and tribe
Per the Texas Tribune: plaintiffs sue to stop a 715-acre wildlife-refuge exchange the Fish and Wildlife Service approved June 1.
Office of Space Commerce opens TraCSS to foreign governments, UK and Australia first
TraCSS begins onboarding read-only National Government Accounts; the pilot spans 52 users in 21 countries, 11,000+ spacecraft.
Amazon Leo wins conditional FCC waiver of 50% deployment deadline, with spectrum cost
The FCC waived the July 2026 1,616-satellite milestone; late satellites temporarily lose processing-round spectrum priority.
FCC approves SpaceX's spectrum purchase from EchoStar
The FCC approved SpaceX's roughly $17 billion purchase of EchoStar spectrum, with a $2.4 billion escrow condition.
OHB opposes Airbus-Leonardo-Thales space merger in EU antitrust review
OHB CEO Marco Fuchs said OHB will raise formal concerns during the EU's antitrust review of the Airbus-Leonardo-Thales space merger.