November

  • Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA) on the security and exchange of classified information enters in force
  • ESA chooses Portuguese Santa Maria island to receive Space Rider’s maiden flight
  • Portuguese Space Agency inaugurates its headquarters in Santa Maria
  • Portugal rectifies Space Activities Regulation
  • Denmark signs the Artemis Accords
  • Italy announces decision to launch rockets from the Luigi Broglio Space Center in Kenya
  • United States (US) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces establishment of committee (SpARC) to review launch licensing regulations
  • US FAA announces is has ended fiscal year 2024 with a record 148 licensed commercial space operations
  • US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revises satellite spectrum sharing rules
  • South African National Space Agency (SANSA) provides update on the National Communication Satellite Strategy (SatCom)
  • Ghana launches National Space Policy
  • Democratic Republic of Congo and Monacosat sign agreement for Satellite Internet Project
  • Zimbabwe launches second satellite, ZIMSAT-2
  • Starlink gains approval to operate in Chad and seeks operating licenses in Tanzania and Morocco
  • Eutelsat Group and Q-KON Africa sign multi-year agreement to expand Low-Earth Orbit satellite services across Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Australia issues first orbital launch permit
  • Russia offers to build spaceports for African and other friendly countries

October

  • UN Fourth Committee approves text on “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space” (document A/C.4/79/L.9) urging the prevention of an arms race in outer space
  • NATO launches multinational cooperation initiatives to enhance deterrence and defence, including to further develop space technologies
  • Council of the European Union publishes Decision (EU) 2024/2709 on the conclusion of the agreement between the EU and the US setting forth security procedures for the launch of Galileo satellites from US territory
  • European Commission awards IRIS2 concession contract
  • ESA issues European Exploration Strategy aimed to consolidate Europe's position in space exploration
  • Portuguese Space Authority approves amendments to the Space Activities Regulation
  • Spain launches ESA's Phi-Lab NET in Barcelona to boost space innovation
  • Spanish and Italian space agencies sign cooperation agreement on space
  • Spain-based Indra completes acquisition of Deimos
  • France, Germany and New Zealand join Space Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender
  • UK and Canada announce satellite collaboration
  • UK and New Zealand agree blueprint for satellite removal and servicing missions
  • Eight commercial spaceports sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  • Estonia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic and Chile sign the Artemis Accords
  • US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announces rules to modernize space-related export controls
  • Inauguration of the African Space Agency is announced to take place at the NewSpace Africa Conference 2025 in Cairo
  • Kenya space agency invites stakeholders to participate on the Draft Kenya Space Bill 2024
  • United Arab Emirates approve establishment of Supreme Space Council
  • China releases space science development program for 2024-2050

September

  • UN adopts Pact for the Future covering agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space
  • Draghi’s report on the future of European competitiveness includes recommendations for the space sector, including removal of ESA’s geographical return principle, harmonisation of licensing requirements and a Space Industrial Fund
  • EUSPA announces the implementation of the GOVSATCOM Hubs
  • ESA issues new Earth Observation Science Strategy
  • ESPI publishes report on space debris mitigation
  • Portuguese Space Authority issues space license for satellite Prometheus-1, of  University of Minho, and for PoSAT-2, by Lusospace
  • Portuguese event on Earth Observation takes place
  • Portuguese Aerospace Centre for Technology and Innovation (CTI) is launched
  • German government releases key points for a proposed German Space Act
  • US FAA releases final rule on the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act
  • US NASA announces new space sustainability division in NASA
  • Peru and São Tomé e Principe become members of AIR CENTRE’s international network
  • Senegal's Space Agency signs cooperation agreement on the International Lunar Research Station
  • Russia signs satellite agreement with three west African governments
  • China publishes information on future manned lunar mission

August

  • Norway’s Andøya Spaceport receives launch site operator licence
  • Satellite infrastructure for reception of EUMETSAT data is deployed across Africa
  • Egyptian space agency unveils plan on space capabilities
  • Indra signs contract to acquire Spain-based Deimos

July

  • NATO States sign initial contract for the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS)
  • European Parliament publishes Resolution on the Strategic Compass and EU space-based defence capabilities
  • ESA publishes its Space Environment Report 2024
  • ESA Council adopts Resolution on European launch services and access to space
  • New European Ariane 6 rocket is launched, reinstating EU’s access to space
  • Portuguese Space Agency issues catalogue of sites and facilities for space research activities
  • Portuguese satellite ISTSAT-1 is launched
  • Sweden approves first defence and security strategy for space
  • US House of Representatives passes NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024
  • Technology Safeguards Agreement between US and Australia enters into force
  • Brazil publishes law instituting rules applicable to national space activities