By Tim Bright
This list covers developments reported from August 25 through September 21, 2026. It includes regulation, licensing, legislation, government policy, international cooperation, and public procurement affecting the space sector.
1. The FCC opened a proceeding on spectrum access for launch and reentry operations — August 25
The Federal Communications Commission sought comment on steps to improve reliable spectrum access for commercial and federal launch, reentry, recovery, and on-orbit activities. The proceeding asks whether the agency should adjust licensing and coordination practices in the 2025–2110 MHz, 2200–2290 MHz, and 2360–2395 MHz bands and consider access to additional bands. Comments were due September 14, with reply comments due September 24.
2. The FCC adopted its fiscal year 2026 regulatory fees for satellite and earth-station licensees — August 27
The FCC released its fiscal year 2026 Regulatory Fee Report and Order, establishing annual assessments across regulated communications services. The order includes separate fees for earth stations, geostationary space stations, and several classes of non-geostationary systems, creating immediate compliance costs for satellite licensees and market-access grantees.
3. The United Kingdom released a new national space strategy — September 8
The UK government published a national strategy placing civil, defence, national-security, and economic space activity under a single framework backed by more than £7.8 billion through 2029–30. The strategy prioritizes satellite communications, in-orbit servicing, space-domain awareness, and assured access to space, while calling for streamlined licensing, regulatory sandboxes, and clearer pathways for novel missions.
4. The United Kingdom announced tiered liability and insurance reforms for space operators — September 8
The UK government announced a three-tier approach to liability limits for orbital-operations licence applications received from December 1, 2026: £50 million, £20 million, or zero, depending initially on security and sustainability criteria. The package also provides for liability and insurance waivers for qualifying in-orbit servicing, assembly, manufacturing, and lunar missions launched before 2030. Updated guidance—and, where necessary, legislation or revocations—will be required to implement parts of the package.
5. The FCC proposed satellite links in familiar unlicensed spectrum bands — September 8
An FCC notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register would add non-federal mobile-satellite Earth-to-space allocations in the 2400–2483.5 MHz and 5725–5850 MHz bands on an unprotected, non-interference basis. The agency also sought comment on licensing-by-rule and Part 25 approaches for devices communicating directly with satellites, including possible use aboard spacecraft and during extravehicular activity. The proposal is not yet a final rule.
6. The FCC circulated a proposal to open more than 1,000 megahertz for satellite services — September 9
The FCC released a draft fact sheet for a proposed order that would expand fixed-satellite access in the 12.7–13.25 GHz and 42–42.5 GHz bands. Related further notices would seek comment on inter-satellite links, spacecraft control, and communications supporting emerging space activities. Because the document was released as a draft agenda item, the described actions should not be treated as adopted unless the Commission subsequently approves them.
7. Australia authorized an overseas payload and its return for microgravity research — September 10
The Australian Space Agency reported that Cambrian Executive Pty Ltd received both an Overseas Payload Permit and a Return Authorisation for an overseas payload under the Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018. The paired approvals cover microgravity research and illustrate how Australia applies separate authorization requirements to a payload’s overseas launch and eventual return. The regulator does not publish the conditions attached to individual permits.
8. ESA awarded a €760 million commercial cargo-service contract for the Nyx vehicle — September 10
The European Space Agency awarded The Exploration Company a service contract for Phase 2 of ALADDIN, Europe’s autonomous cargo-capsule program. The agreement covers an initial Nyx demonstration mission to the International Space Station and includes options for two later cargo missions to the ISS or a future commercial station. ESA described the procurement as an anchor-customer model intended to establish an independent European cargo transportation and return capability.
9. NOAA expanded its long-term procurement of commercial satellite data — September 10
NOAA announced a ten-year Space-Based Environmental Monitoring contract, effective September 1, for commercial environmental data supporting weather forecasting, space-weather monitoring, and orbit prediction. Fourteen vendors were initially selected across seven data categories, including radio occultation, synthetic-aperture radar, and thermospheric density. NOAA’s Commercial Data Program is authorized by the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 and the PROSWIFT Act of 2020.
10. ESA and Starlab signed a letter of intent addressing the post-ISS era — September 12
ESA and Starlab signed a letter of intent setting preliminary terms for possible European astronaut missions, payload capacity, laboratory use, and transportation services aboard the planned commercial station. The document builds on a 2023 memorandum of understanding but remains exploratory; any further commitments will depend on decisions by ESA Member States.
11. The Senate reported the Secure Space Act of 2026 — September 14
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reported S. 1962 with amendments. The bill would prohibit the FCC from granting certain satellite, earth-station, or U.S. market-access authorizations when the authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that provides covered insecure communications equipment or services, or by an affiliate of such an entity. The measure has not been enacted.
12. Djibouti became the seventy-second signatory to the Artemis Accords — September 14
The Republic of Djibouti signed the Artemis Accords, expanding the group of participating states to seventy-two. The Accords are a nonbinding political commitment that builds on existing space treaties and addresses transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, registration, scientific data, space resources, heritage protection, and the avoidance of harmful interference.
13. The United States launched the Space Catalyst Partnership — September 15
The Department of State launched the Space Catalyst Partnership to deepen civil and commercial cooperation with Artemis Accords countries through diplomacy, industry engagement, and targeted foreign assistance. Its initial projects include a proposed $6.5 million satellite-connectivity initiative for rural institutions in Peru, subject to congressional action and the availability of funds.
14. European and international participants endorsed new space-sustainability declarations — September 16
Following the International Space Summit in Paris, ESA reported a joint ESA–European Commission declaration on in-space operations and services and two broader declarations concerning the sustainable use of outer space and radio-frequency resources. The sustainability declaration reaffirms the Outer Space Treaty, supports continued implementation of the UN space-sustainability guidelines, and calls for cooperation to reduce harmful interference between satellite systems. These instruments express policy commitments rather than binding legislation.
15. The European Union and South Korea established a secure-connectivity working group — September 17
The European Commission and the Republic of Korea signed an administrative arrangement to explore cooperation on secure satellite connectivity and possible future integration with IRIS². The arrangement creates a working group involving the Commission, ESA, and Korean defence and technical agencies to exchange program information and assess system-level cooperation. It is exploratory and does not replace the international treaty that would be required for formal third-country participation in IRIS².
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.