What's at stake for the space industry as America heads to the polls?

As Democrats appear poised to regain control of the U.S. House and polling reveals a path to also tip the scale in the Senate, SpaceNews reporters assess how tomorrow's results could impact space policy and influence investments across the industry.

Civil space

A change in party control of Congress after the midterm elections may put to the test the longstanding bipartisan nature of civil space policy.

Democratic control of one or both houses of Congress will set up conflicts with the Trump administration on many topics. That could extend to NASA, which has been less susceptible to partisan divides than other issues.

“One of the few issues in Washington I can proudly say we can work together on is space,” said Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., chairman of the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee, at the Space Economy Summit Oct. 29. “It’s something Republicans and Democrats have locked arms about and really believe is the future of our country.”

Haridopolos would lose that chairmanship if Democrats win control of the House. Industry sources expect a Democratic majority to pursue issues ranging from proposed severe cuts in NASA science programs to closures of facilities at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Read Jeff Foust's full report

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Military space

The Nov. 3 midterm elections could reshape the Trump administration’s plans for a major expansion of military space spending, with billions of dollars in proposed satellite and missile defense investments hanging in the balance.

The stakes extend beyond individual military programs. A growing number of commercial space companies have made national security contracts central to their business strategies, attracting investors who see the Pentagon as a major source of future revenue. Much of that revenue is tied to the Golden Dome initiative. A Democratic majority could demand more detailed information about Golden Dome before approving additional funding, particularly for orbital interceptors.

Even with Republicans controlling both chambers, the administration has encountered resistance to its spending plans. A Democratic takeover of either chamber would make another Republican-led reconciliation package effectively impossible without bipartisan agreement.

Read Sandra Erwin's full report

FROM SPACENEWS

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