By Tim Bright
This list covers developments reported through August 24, 2026. It includes regulation, licensing, government policy, international cooperation, and space-industry litigation.
1. Australia published its latest space-licensing decisions — August 5
The Australian Space Agency released an updated register of decisions made under the Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018. The update recorded overseas payload permits granted to Astranis Australia, Swinburne University of Technology, and Curtin University.
2. Spire disclosed a $12.4 million satellite-services arbitration award — August 5
Spire Global disclosed that an International Chamber of Commerce tribunal had dismissed NorthStar Earth & Space’s contract, fraud, and misconduct claims. The tribunal awarded approximately $12.4 million to Spire on its counterclaims. The underlying dispute involved a contract to manufacture, launch, and operate four space-situational-awareness satellites.
3. India and the United States discussed space regulation and the Artemis Accords — August 5–6
The ninth India–U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group met at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru. Its discussions covered export controls, procurement, national regulatory regimes, the UN guidelines on the long-term sustainability of space activities, and scientific data sharing under the Artemis Accords. NASA also invited ISRO to participate in its Moon Base program.
4. The FCC opened a rulemaking on unlicensed direct-to-device satellite communications — August 6
The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examining whether devices operating in certain unlicensed spectrum bands could communicate directly with authorized satellites. The proposal also addresses the use of unlicensed wireless equipment aboard spacecraft and for links between spacecraft.
5. The U.S. offshore-spaceport consultation closed — August 7
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management concluded the comment period for its inquiry into using the Outer Continental Shelf for launch, reentry, and spacecraft-recovery infrastructure. The inquiry examined possible legal and regulatory frameworks for repurposed offshore platforms and purpose-built space facilities, but did not authorize any particular project.
6. The European Union signed an implementation agreement for IRIS² — August 7
The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium completed negotiations and signed an implementation agreement for the EU’s secure satellite constellation. The revised project will comprise 348 satellites and operate under the EU’s existing 12-year public-private concession arrangement.
7. A federal court approved the Virgin Galactic derivative-litigation settlement — August 14
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York granted final approval to a settlement resolving shareholder derivative cases involving Virgin Galactic and several current or former officers and directors. Insurers will pay $2.75 million, half of which will remain with Virgin Galactic and half of which will cover plaintiffs’ legal fees and costs. The settlement contained no finding of wrongdoing.
8. The United States launched a pilot process for novel space-mission authorization — August 20
The Office of Space Commerce requested companies to participate in a voluntary Space Commerce Certification pilot. It is intended to test a coordinated authorization process for activities—such as satellite servicing, in-space manufacturing, and lunar operations—that do not fit clearly within existing FAA or FCC licensing systems. Certifications issued during the pilot will be nonbinding and will not replace existing licenses.
9. The White House issued a new National Space Transportation Policy — August 20
National Security Presidential Memorandum 17 replaced the United States’ 2013 space-transportation policy. It directs agencies to expand launch and reentry infrastructure, integrate space operations into air-traffic management, improve spectrum access, review export controls, and establish processes for foreign vehicles launching or reentering from U.S. territory. The policy sets a goal of supporting more than 1,000 U.S. launches and reentries annually by 2030.
10. FAA commercial-space environmental-waiver proposal remains open through August 31
The FAA is accepting comments on a proposed rule that would permit the Department of Transportation to waive specified requirements under 13 federal environmental and historic-preservation laws for certain commercial launch, reentry, spaceport, and experimental-permit decisions. The proposal covers statutes including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. It remains a proposal rather than an effective rule.
Tim Bright is a USPTO-registered patent agent (Reg. No. 76,894) and a J.D. candidate at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. He is not an attorney, and nothing in this series is legal advice.