Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Satellite Conference 2026: Office of Space Commerce releases mission authorization playbook

Plus: How satellite executives are responding to geopolitics
‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
SpaceNews coverage from Satellite 2026 in Washington, D.C.

03/25/2026 | READ IN BROWSER


The latest reporting from Satellite x GovMilSpace in Washington, D.C.
At the show? Visit SpaceNews at booth 2926 and meet our team.


SPONSORED BY

Sponsored by Voyager

SpaceNews is reporting from the 2026 Satellite conference all week. In this edition, the Office of Space Commerce released its "light touch" approach to mission authorization, how geopolitics has been impacting satcom operators and news on several fundraising rounds. Click here to see our full conference coverage.


Office of Space Commerce releases mission authorization proposal

By Jeff Foust

The Office of Space Commerce rolled out its draft mission authorization proposal late March 24, laying out a "light touch" approach to the topic. It represents the latest attempt in a long-running effort to regulate new commercial space applications.


The proposal is intended to address a gap in oversight of so-called "novel space activities," such as satellite servicing, orbital debris removal and lunar missions, that are not currently regulated by agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration or Federal Communications Commission. The Outer Space Treaty requires member states to perform authorization and continuing supervision of space activities by their nationals.


Geopolitical shifts bring opportunities and headaches for satellite execs

A shifting geopolitical landscape is driving business opportunities for satellite communication companies but also bringing new supply chain and regulatory challenges, industry executives said March 24 during a conference panel.


Sift raises $42 million in Series B round

Sift, a Southern California startup developing tools to help engineers make sense of hardware sensor data, raised $42 million in a Series B investment round. With the funding, Sift plans to expand its staff of engineers building the infrastructure layer that underpins devices controlled by artificial intelligence algorithms.

$25/month – or less than $5/week

Subscribe to SpaceNews for a clear, curated view of what matters most across the industry. Get access now

Airbase raises $5 million to tackle spectrum bottleneck as FCC eyes new space uses

New York-based software startup Airbase emerged from stealth March 25 after raising $5 million to modernize how governments coordinate radio frequencies used by satellites, 5G networks and other wireless systems.


Pave Space raises $40 million to develop European heavy kickstage

Swiss startup Pave Space has raised $40 million to develop an orbital transfer vehicle that could move satellites from low Earth orbit to their final destinations in hours instead of months.

FROM SPACENEWS

Register to join our virtual conversation on the energy imperative driving the push toward orbital data centers on March 31

March 31 at 1 p.m. ET: Join SpaceNews and Star Catcher, in partnership with the Commercial Space Federation, for a conversation on the energy and computing needs driving the push toward orbital data centers, where there are gaps and where there are opportunities and what comes next in this fast-moving field. Register now.

Subscribe to SpaceNews



No comments:

Post a Comment

Industry says proposed NASA changes to commercial space station plans create confusion

Our coverage of the agency's busy week ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌...