The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Turner, issued a cryptic warning about a "serious national security threat," prompting officials to urge calm. While the threat is unspecified, it is believed to be related to Russian capabilities in space, specifically the development of a nuclear-capable weapon that could potentially take down U.S. satellites. Lawmakers have downplayed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for attention but not immediate panic. The Biden administration is set to brief House members on the issue, while Moscow has dismissed the reports as an attempt to push a stalled bill providing U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Startups in the space industry are calling for streamlined US regulations to keep pace with industry progress, emphasizing the need for modernized satellite licensing rules and support for nascent space businesses. Executives from Orbit Fab and True Anomaly highlighted the importance of enabling collaboration with international partners and the need for a speedy licensing regime to address emerging space threats. The Federal Communications Commission has released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to set up a licensing framework for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing activities.
After more than four years since its reinstatement, the US Space Command has announced that it is now fully operational. The milestone signifies that the command meets the criteria to execute its mission of delivering space capabilities to military users and combatant commanders. Achieving full operational capability required meeting various requirements, including demonstrating operational responsibilities, developing a skilled workforce, and establishing the necessary infrastructure and processes. The selection of a permanent headquarters for the command has been a contentious process, involving reviews from government watchdog agencies and debates between states. The command achieved initial operations in 2021 and has now reached full operational capability.
