The hottest Space Policy Substack posts right now

A handful of tech companies now control critical infrastructure like satellites and AI and can directly influence military and political outcomes by granting or denying access.
Relying on foreign tech firms creates a real sovereignty risk and single points of failure that many countries can’t easily control or compel to act in their national interest.
Governments are waking up to the problem and must pursue 'tech sovereignty' through regulation, supplier diversification, and domestic capability building, because countries like the UK are particularly exposed.

SpaceX’s new Moon focus shows private companies can lead human expansion off Earth and open commercial opportunities on the Moon.
Promoting lunar colonization as public policy is being argued as a practical way to spur economic growth, technological progress, and long-term prosperity.
The Moon push signals a convergence between entrepreneurial space ventures and pro-growth, capitalist ideas about humanity’s future in space.

Looking for life on Mars should be the top priority, with everything else coming second.
Human settlement off-planet is about more than nationalist rivalry, mining, or narrow science; it’s about taking permanent root beyond Earth.
Many space supporters frame off-world settlement as part of a pro-growth, progress-oriented vision that values expansion, technology, and long-term abundance.

NASA is facing big budget cuts that could shut down many important space missions. This could seriously hurt America's leadership in space science.
Blue Origin is finally speeding up its rocket launches and is becoming a serious competitor to SpaceX. They are working on exciting projects like lunar landings and Mars missions.
There’s a chance that America could lead in space exploration again, with more private companies involved in projects, making space more like a busy industry instead of just government work.

Establishing a Moon base could offer valuable resources and opportunities for economic development. It can also strengthen national security by ensuring access to those resources.
We should let AI develop without heavy regulations so it can flourish like the internet did. Striking a balance between monitoring safety and allowing growth is key.
A focused national policy on AI is important to prevent mixed regulations across states, promoting American leadership in this rapidly evolving field.

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Europe needs to take real steps towards being independent in space launches. Relying on other countries for rocket launches isn't a viable long-term strategy.
The current state of Europe's launch industry is weak, with very few successful launches compared to other countries. More competition could lead to better innovation and technology.
Europe has the talent and resources to improve its space industry, but it's not using them effectively. Making serious investments and diversifying options is crucial for real space sovereignty.

SpaceX has secured all recent Department of Defense launch contracts, leaving ULA with no awards this time. This is surprising since ULA typically wins a good portion of these types of contracts.
The DoD seems to have lost trust in ULA's ability to deliver launches reliably. ULA's delays and problems with their Vulcan rocket have contributed to this change in perception.
Despite the DoD's efforts to promote competition in the launch market, they currently rely heavily on SpaceX for national security launches. This poses a risk as it creates dependency on a single provider.

Ukraine needs to plan for the chance that it might lose support from U.S. space assets in the future. This means finding other ways to get the information and services they need.
There are other global options for space services that Ukraine can choose from, including satellites from Europe, China, and India. Diversifying their partners can help reduce reliance on the U.S.
Trusting U.S. support might not be enough for Ukraine. They should explore backup systems and train their military to use alternatives in case U.S. support diminishes.