Key Space and Satellite Developments to Watch in 2025

Key developments in space law, including revised export controls and SpaceX's test flight, signal a transformative era for U.S. space and national security strategies by 2025.

Updates to Export Controls

In October, the landscape of export regulations affecting spacecraft saw significant transformations from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the State Department.

The Department of Commerce introduced three vital documents: a conclusive rule corresponding with the AUKUS agreement, an interim final rule focusing on NASA-related programs, and a notice of proposed rulemaking concerning export controls in the space industry.

On the other hand, the State Department put forth its own NPRM aimed at USML Category XV (Spacecraft) and Category IV (Launch Vehicles).

Although released concurrently, these initiatives follow distinct regulatory pathways.

Evaluating Launch Regulation Efficiency

After reworking its launch and reentry regulations in 2020 into the streamlined Part 450 framework, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received mixed feedback.

Some stakeholders have pointed out areas of concern.

To address this, the FAA established the Spaceport and Aerospace Regulatory Committee (SpARC) in mid-November 2024.

This committee is entrusted with the review and potential modification of Part 450, and its recommendations are expected to be ready by summer 2025.

SpaceX’s Bold Test Flight

SpaceX made headlines again on November 19 with Starship Flight 6, just 37 days after its last launch.

This particular mission drew attention from notable political figures, including President-elect Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz.

The flight’s goal was to achieve orbital placement for the Starship, but it also carried a banana as a dummy payload—a clever tactic by SpaceX to pave the way for securing government approvals for future missions.

The flight ended with the Super Heavy booster opting for an offshore landing rather than a recovery; nonetheless, this marked a pivotal moment for SpaceX, which is gearing up for 25 Starship launches in 2025.

Demonstrating operational abilities, this reusable vehicle has the potential to revolutionize the way the U.S. builds infrastructure in space and drastically cut launch costs.

  • Increased Cooperation at DoD and Space Force
  • Trump Administration’s Ambitions for Civil and Commercial Space

The significance of space for U.S. national and economic security was highlighted in April 2024 as both the Department of Defense and the U.S. Space Force released their Commercial Space Strategies.

These documents outline the vital role of a robust commercial space industry, emphasizing the need to seamlessly integrate commercial resources into national security measures prior to facing crises.

However, this growing dependence on commercial space assets could create challenges, as the dual-use nature of these resources raises the stakes for their safety during emergencies.

With President-elect Trump poised for a second term, his administration is set on broadening the scope of civil and commercial space ventures.

His established connections with influential figures, like Elon Musk, bode well for this mission.

During his first term, he revived the National Space Council and spearheaded the creation of the U.S. Space Force.

There’s been a noticeable increase in the deployment of Space Act Agreements and Other Transaction Authority agreements by agencies such as NASA and the Department of Defense.

This trend reveals an ongoing commitment to returning humans to the lunar surface and developing infrastructure on and around the Moon.

Source: Natlawreview