This Space Brief highlights some of the most relevant regulatory and policy news and milestones of the last months.
See below the main events between April and June 2024.
April
- EU announces proposal for the EU Space Law (EUSL) for later 2024
- The European Commission and ESA sign collaboration agreement to address critical global challenges through space
- The European Defence Agency (EDA) issues Annual Report 2023
- ESA accelerates the race towards clean energy from space
- Sweden, Slovenia and Switzerland sign the Artemis Accords
- UK CAA grants range license to SaxaVord spaceport
- US FAA announces changes to licensing of re-entry vehicles
- US DoD releases 2024 DoD Commercial Space Integration Strategy
- NASA announces new Space Sustainability Strategy
- NOAA issues vision for Global Space Situational Awareness Coordination
- Canada announces creation of National Space Council
- The NewSpace Africa Conference takes place in Angola
- The Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD) and the SatNav Africa Joint Programme Office (JPO) sign agreement for position and navigation
- China plans to use commercial launch capacity to launch megaconstellations
- Thailand joins China’s ILRS moon base project
- World Economic Forum issues insight Report on space
May
- The Lisbon Declaration for Outer Space is presented at the Management and Sustainability of Space Activities Conference, organised by UNOOSA and the Portuguese Space Agency
- The EU publishes the Critical Raw Materials Act, which addresses the space sector
- The European Commission JRC publishes Earth Observation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
- The Council of the EU adopts Conclusions on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness through space
- EUSPA launches a call to establish a database of Business Accelerators
- EU SATCEN releases Annual Report 2023
- ESA adopts Resolution on strengthening Europe’s Competitiveness through Space
- Twelve nations sign the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council
- ESA awards contracts for Spain’s contribution to the Atlantic Constellation
- ESA and NASA sign agreement to land Europe’s rover on Mars
- Lithuania, Slovakia and Peru sign the Artemis Accords
- The Portuguese Directorate-General of Resources for National Defence (DGRDN) issues a notice of procedure for the acquisition of local support and operation of the optical sensor on the island of Santa Maria, under the SST programme
- The UK Space Agency announces investment into early-stage technology programme to enhance UK’s Earth observation technologies
- The UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) publishes the Space Regulatory Review 2024
- The UK Science and Defence Ministers launch the National Space Operations Centre
- Serbia joins ILRS moon base project
- US FCC proposes new rules for debris risks
- Kenya Space Agency issues Strategic Plan 2023-2027
- Korea opens Korea AeroSpace Administration (KARA)
- The Dominican Republic kicks off a study into the feasibility of setting up a commercial spaceport
- Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announces the creation of Neo Space Group (NSG) to specifically invest in local and international commercial satellite opportunities
June
- The European Commission launches transition pathway for a resilient, sustainable and digital aerospace industrial ecosystem
- The Council of the EU issues Blueprint to coordinate EU response to disruptions to critical infrastructure
- EUSPA launches Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) services survey
- EUPA SPACE4Cities launches open market consultation for using EO on city planning and management
- The European Space Forum takes place in Brussels
- Slovenia signs the Accession Agreement to the ESA Convention
- ESA takes first step to modify georeturn policies
- NATO establishes official space branch structure
- The Portuguese Space Agency organises the 7th New Space Atlantic Summit
- The Portuguese Space Agency and ESA organise the ESA BIC Portugal Infoday 2024
- Italy’s Council of Ministers approves first Space Law
- Norway and Germany conclude agreement for Andøya satellite launches
- The Swedish Space Corporation and South Korea rocket manufacturer sign partnership for launches
- Armenia signs the Artemis Accords
- Angola GGPEN signs MoU with the University of Botswana to enhance space development
- Namibia Spaceport project has been approved