Good Afternoon!
There have been plenty of space headlines over the past couple of weeks. Butch and Suni finally got a ride home. The Senate Commerce Committee moved important space bills forward and Space Systems Command expressed interest in commercial alternatives to legacy systems. President Trump indicated Mars is not at the top of his priority list and China opened up its Mars sample return mission to international participation.
All this and more in this week's edition of Akin's Space Law, Regulation and Policy newsletter.
Akin Spotlight
Akin's Trump Executive Order Tracker provides a high-level overview of executive orders published by the new administration. These orders cut across dozens of industries and topics. The Tracker is updated as orders and Akin's in-depth analysis of specific orders are published.
Please visit Akin's Trump Executive Order Overview to view a matrix of the orders.
On The Hill
Articles and Quotes
Senators Introduce 2025 NASA Authorization Bill (Space Policy Online)
Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (CST) have introduced the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Transition Authorization Act of 2025 (S. 933). The bill, almost identical to the NASA authorization bill introduced in December, aims to authorize $25.5 billion for the agency in fiscal year (FY) 2025 while supporting the Artemis program, private sector investments and the commercial space economy, among other provisions. The legislation is further cosponsored by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
Introduced Legislation & Legislative Updates
On March 11, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced companion bills of the Space Guard Establishment Act (S. 963; H.R. 2042) which aim to establish the Space National Guard (SNG) as the reserve component of the Space Force.
On March 12, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ordered the Situational Awareness of Flying Elements in Orbit (SAFE Orbit) Act (S. 428) be reported favorably with one amendment.
FOn March 14, the Senate confirmed Stephen Feinberg as Deputy Secretary of Defense by a vote of 59-40.
On March 15, the President signed the full-year Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.R. 1968) into law, preventing a shutdown and funding the federal government through September.
Please find our Space Legislation Tracker here.
Recent and Upcoming Congressional Hearings (Mar 21, 2025 - Apr 4, 2025)
On March 11, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held its Member Day hearing.
On March 12, the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee held a hearing on the current readiness of the Joint Force, receiving testimony from Gen. Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations at U.S. Air Force (USAF).
On March 26, the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee will hold a hearing to receive testimony on the U.S. Space Command and U.S. Strategic Command in review of the FY2026 defense authorization request. The House Appropriations National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Subcommittee will hold their Member Day hearing.
In the White House/Executive Branch
Articles and Quotes
NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams Return to Earth After 9 Months Stuck in Space (Associated Press)
After a week-long stint on the International Space Station (ISS) turned into a nine-month trip, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth on March 18. After issues with the Starliner's propulsion system and thrusters in June of 2024, NASA determined that the safest course of action was a return trip on the Dragon capsule, initially scheduled for February. In January, President Trump called for an expedited return of the pair back to Earth.
NASA Gets Extension to Submit Layoff Plans (SpaceNews)
Originally ordered by the Trump administration to present plans for "large-scale" layoffs by March 13, NASA has announced that they have received a one-week extension on reorganization and reduction proposals. The February executive order titled "Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization" requires all agency heads to submit plans for restructuring and layoffs, excluding any action that impacts military personnel. NASA, which has already begun to lay off staff, cited multiple ongoing projects, such as the Crew-10, SPHEREx and PUNCH launches, as reason for the extension.
Space Force Asks for 'Flexibility' to Manage Effects of Yearlong CR (Air and Space Forces)
At a March 12 Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing on Joint Force preparedness, Vice Chief of Space Operation Gen. Michael Guetlein cited concerns and challenges posed by a yearlong CR for the U.S. Space Force (USSF). Guetlein asserted that the being the smallest force, USSF faces the greatest impacts from budget uncertainties. Further, he noted that the branch would fiscally benefit from the authority to engage in multiyear procurements. Guetlein urged Congress to grant USSF flexibility within the nowpassed budget framework.
Space Systems Command Reviewing Expensive Legacy Programs for Possible Commercial Shift (Breaking Defense)
Military deputy at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (ASAF/SQ) Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy has noted that Space Systems Command (SSC) is currently evaluating several legacy programs and considering commercial alternatives. Purdy asserted that some of these programs are inefficient and expensive, and that SSC hopes to put forward requests for information (RFI) to gain a stronger understanding of the benefits presented by newer commercial options. Purdy has specifically noted the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) as a program under review.
New FCC Space Chief Seeks Licensing Reform And 'Intensive' Use of Spectrum (SpaceNews)
Jay Schwartz, the new Chief of the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Space Bureau, has announced priorities for his tenure at the agency: an expedited licensing process, freeing spectrum for space uses and investment facilitation. Schwartz, at the Satellite 2025 conference, announced that he hopes to bring more automation and shorter timelines to the agency's licensing processes, and that his main role is to "facilitate and accelerate" investments in the space industry. Schwartz, the former vice president of public policy at Comcast, did not provide timelines for suggested licensing and spectrum reforms.
Trump: Mars Not a Top Priority, But Would Be Great (Space Policy Online)
After citing Martian ambitions in both his inaugural address and his joint address to Congress, President Trump cited in a recent interview that sending humans to Mars is not a top priority for his administration, though he noted that the U.S. remains "leading big in space."
Federal Agency Space News
Department of Defense
Senate Confirms New Deputy Defense Secretary (March 14, 2025)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Welcome Home! NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 Back on Earth After Science Mission (March 18, 2025)
Dragon Undocks with SpaceX Crew-9 Members for Return to Earth (March 18, 2025)
Liftoff! NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Launches from Kennedy Space Center (March 14, 2025)
NASA Glenn Experts Join Law College to Talk Human Spaceflight (March 12, 2025)
Human System Risk Board (March 11, 2025)
NASA Names New EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program Deputy Manager (March 11, 2025)
Artemis II Upper Stage Delivered to Kennedy (March 10, 2025)
U.S. Space Force
DAF Announces Restoring America's Fighting Force Task Force Validation Plan (March 17, 2025)
Space Force, Air Force Leaders Discuss Missile Defense Strategy Amid Growing Global Threats (March 14, 2025)
Senior Leaders to Senate: Air Force, Space Force Are Ready, Capable, But Challenges Remain (March 12, 2025)
Air Force, Space Force Discuss Requirements to Win Future Fights (March 10, 2025)
International
Articles & Quotes
China Opens 2028 Mars Sample Return Mission to International Cooperation (SpaceNews)
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has published an announcement of opportunities for interested parties to submit proposals to join the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission. The mission is due to launch in 2028. The announcement notes that proposals are welcome from international partners at both the system and payload level, with 15 kilograms of mass available for international collaboration projects on the Earth return orbiter (ERO) and 5 kilograms on the Mars orbiter (MO). CNSA notes that proposals must align with the mission's scientific objectives or provide additional value.
Check out below for comment opportunities, requests for proposals, notices of proposed rulemaking and a look at the week ahead in space events:
Comment Opportunities (RFIs)
Lunar Experiment Support Systems and
Handling (LESSH) Project Battery
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Close Date:
April 1, 2025
FCC Launches Inquiry Into Upper C-band
Federal Communications
Commission
Close Date: April 29, 2025
Certain Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 32
Requirements
National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Defense
Close Date: May 12, 2025
Service Contracting
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Department of Defense Close Date:
May 12, 2025
Value Engineering Requirements
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, Department of Defense
Close Date: May 12, 2025
Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
NASA Flight
Crew Training
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Close Date: Apr 11, 2025
Notices of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRMs)
No new proposed rules.
Upcoming Space Events
The Future of Space Politics
The Planetary Society
March 24, 2025
SBLL 2024
Space Beach Law Lab
March 25-27, 2025
AI for Space and Aeronautics
Space Policy
Institute, Universities Space Research Association
March 27, 2025
Open Commission Meeting
Federal
Communications Commission
March 27, 2025
Space
Sustainability: Bridging Initiatives and Perspectives
SWF, EPFL Space Center, ITU
March 27-28, 2025
Space Science Week
National Academies
March 31-April 4, 2025
ISPRS Geospatial Week
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote
Sensing
April 6-11, 2025
Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exhibition
Navy League
April 7-9, 2025
40th Space Symposium
Space Foundation
April 7-10, 2025
Planetary Protection Panel
COSPAR
April 14-16, 2025
Public Meeting on SpaceX Launch Increase Proposal
at SLC-40
Federal Aviation Administration
April 16, 2025
Legal Subcommittee Session
COPUOS
May 5-16, 2025
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
