News & Press https://satelliteconfers.org/news/default.asp Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:46:59 GMT Tue, 2 Jun 2026 15:59:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 CONFERS Space Force accelerating work to operationalize on-orbit logistics tech https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728454 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728454 Click here to view the article (Defensescoop)]]> Tue, 2 Jun 2026 16:59:00 GMT Researchers call for regulations to protect low Earth orbit environment https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728452 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728452 Click here to view the article (SpaceNews)]]> Tue, 2 Jun 2026 16:50:00 GMT NASA's Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728098 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728098
The Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge — the fifth in the NASA TechLeap Prize series — is a competition to advance persistent infrastructure for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. NASA Flight Opportunities invites applicants to propose a payload that can be manipulated by a robotic arm in low Earth orbit. Up to three winners will each receive up to $500,000 to develop a flight-ready payload. In addition, NASA intends to provide an opportunity for the winning teams to demonstrate their payload in orbit (at no additional cost). These TechLeap payloads will fly aboard an orbital spacecraft that will rendezvous with the Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) platform already in orbit. The FFR mission is expected to launch in late 2027, and the TechLeap payloads are slated to launch in early 2028.]]> Wed, 27 May 2026 22:16:00 GMT TraCSS Account Registration Now Available Online https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728096 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=728096 Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) is now available for satellite owner/operators via the TraCSS webpage. For more information and step-by-step instructions on requesting an account, visit the TraCSS website via this link.

Please note that registration on the system is currently limited to active spacecraft owner/operators.]]> Wed, 27 May 2026 21:55:00 GMT NewSpace Nexus Releases Annual State of the Space Industrial Base Report https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726731 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726731 NewSpace Nexus released the 7th annual State of the Space Industrial Base Conference Series and Workshop (SSIB) report, SSIB 2025, "Sustaining Space Leadership: Economic Strength and National Security at Speed and Scale," providing recommendations to solve pressing issues impeding faster progress, with the voice of industry fully represented throughout. Over 350 government and commercial space leaders provide recommendations for ensuring national security and U.S. leadership in Space.

At a time when speed and scale are critical, valuable time and resources are lost when companies do not advance their innovations and government buyers do not find the suppliers with the capabilities they need. In this context, the report provides counsel to the Administration, senior policymakers across the executive departments, Congress, the venture capital and investor community, and the broader commercial space ecosystem. Additionally, the report is designed to be a resource for those engaged in national security space acquisitions who must make near‑term decisions under conditions of strategic, technological, and fiscal uncertainty.

The report directly reflects input from hundreds of industry experts who convene annually at the SSIB Conference & Workshop series. It highlights critical actions and recommendations offered through six working groups addressing the areas most critical to advancing industry progress including Space Policy and Regulation & Finance; Launch Capacity, Spaceport Infrastructure & National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Modernization; Space-based communications architecture; Space Mobility & Logistics/In‑Space Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (SML/ISAM); Novel Space Technologies and Space Education; and Workforce & STEM. The topic areas covered were developed in collaboration with Key Partners including U.S. Space Force, COMSO, Air Force Research Laboratory and Defense Innovation Unit.

Click here to download the report

Click here to download excerpted Chapter 5:  Space Mobility & Logistics/In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing  

]]> Mon, 4 May 2026 13:05:00 GMT FCC Updates EPFD Framework that Covers GEO/NGSO Spectrum Sharing https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726437 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726437 Click here to view the article (Via Satellite)]]> Fri, 1 May 2026 13:38:00 GMT Europe Report: The familiar tensions with the EU Space Act https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726316 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726316
The European Union’s revised draft of the EU Space Act, released March 30, was expected to address industry concerns raised after the first version last year. Instead, it appears to have confirmed them — on both sides of the Atlantic.

That initial draft received more than 120 responses from European and international stakeholders and triggered mixed reactions. European actors broadly supported the objective of harmonizing standards across the EU but repeatedly highlighted concerns about clarity and practical implementation.

SES, for example, noted in its comments that one part of the draft requires operators to justify their orbit’s choice “through ‘recognised and state-of-the-art methods,’ but there are no internationally recognised methods, nor is ‘state-of-the-art methods’ defined.”

American stakeholders were more direct in their criticism, arguing that the act risks regulatory overreach and could negatively affect the operations of American companies in Europe. SpaceX expressed “significant concerns with the Space Act as currently conceived,” citing “the complexity and uncertainty,” as well as “the duplication, inconsistency, and technical infeasibility of some proposed requirements” and “the enormous and under-represented compliance costs associated with the Act.”

The second draft appears to have done little to ease those concerns. According to some United States stakeholders, the revised version even moves backward in some regards.

To better understand the European reaction to the new draft, SpaceNews spoke with ASD-Eurospace and D-Orbit.

Catherine Doldirina, general counsel at D-Orbit, said that “D-Orbit remains concerned that the draft EU Space Act remains very difficult to implement across member states in respect of multi-service activities involving multiple spacecraft, multiple customers and new business models.”

“It remains likely,” Doldirina added, “that the cost to EU operators of non-EU services such as launch will significantly increase, as is the risk of retaliatory measures against the EU (and its operators) from the U.S. In addition, space operators still face a long, complex and costly pathway to EU certification involving multiple authorities and bodies, which is unlikely to integrate comfortably with existing regulatory regimes for space activities.”

Olivier Lemaitre, secretary general of ASD-Eurospace, noted that “The new draft moves towards clearer distinctions between actors and, in general, stronger compliance mechanisms for third-country operators.”

According to Lemaitre, “the most relevant part of the EU Space Act is the safety pillar, and member states still have to discuss its technical aspects, so the ‘accusations’ of being ‘not agnostic’ and imposing things on the U.S. are not really true and sound much more like a trial of intent. Industry has requested alignment with international standards and a technology-agnostic approach, but also consideration for the future safety of our systems. This should be the common ambition between the U.S. and the EU: STM enforcement with high standards and compliance.”

However, he also acknowledged that “if we talk about the burden that will come from the authorization process and environmental pillar, this is a concern for our industry as well — we are currently discussing with the co-legislators to try to mitigate the negative side effects.”

Lemaitre also questioned the framing of the debate in Washington around “EU protectionism.”

“On a personal note, I have the impression that the concerns expressed by the U.S. have nothing to do with the fear that they might be prevented from doing business in the EU, but more that they are looking to avoid being regulated at all by non-U.S. norms in the way they operate in space in general.”

At its core, the disagreement reflects a familiar transatlantic tension: the balance between avoiding regulatory gaps that can create long-term systemic risks — a criticism Europe often directs at the U.S. — and avoiding excessive regulation that could slow industrial development, a criticism the U.S. frequently directs at the European Union.]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:40:00 GMT AIAA Public Review for On-Orbit Servicing Power and Data Interfaces Standard https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726224 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726224 The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced that AIAA S-159, On-Orbit Servicing Power and Data Interfaces, has been released for public review. This document, the foundation of which was developed by CONFERS Power and Data Task Force, Chaired by Victor Nifo, MDA Space, provides best practices, functional requirements, and norms associated with the power and data interfaces between a Servicing Spacecraft and a Client Space Object. The intent is to provide guidance to developers and operators of both the Servicing Spacecraft and the Client Space Object. The public review deadline is 30 June 2026. For a copy of the draft, submission of public review comments, or questions, please contact Michele Dominiak at micheled@aiaa.org.

CONFERS urges its members to review AIAA S-159 and provide feedback by the June 30, 2026 deadline.

]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:59:00 GMT Space Symposium 2026 – CONFERS – Building the Rules of the Road for Satellite Servicing https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726120 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=726120

At Space Symposium 2026, Yvette Gonzalez spoke with Brian Lagana, Executive Director of CONFERS, about the growing need for standards in satellite servicing and in-orbit operations.

As space activity expands, new capabilities such as in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing are moving from concept to reality. However, the frameworks governing these activities are still in their early stages. CONFERS was established to address this gap by developing common practices and guidelines for what is often referred to as ISAM.

The organization is working across multiple areas, including debris removal, autonomy, interoperability, and safety. These efforts aim to define how systems interact in orbit, ensuring that future operations can scale safely and efficiently.

The challenge is significant. Unlike traditional sectors, space has lacked established standards for these emerging activities. Drawing inspiration from industries such as transportation, CONFERS is working to create a foundation that can support long-term growth.

The importance of this work extends beyond individual missions. As human exploration moves forward, including initiatives linked to Artemis, uncrewed ISAM capabilities are expected to play a critical role in supporting infrastructure and operations.

The direction is clear. As the space economy evolves, establishing shared rules and standards will be essential to enable sustainable and scalable activity in orbit.

]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:13:00 GMT Federal bill aims to enable 'homegrown' space launches https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=725891 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=725891 Click here to view the article (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:00 GMT Cleared for Liftoff: NTIA Unveils Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=725148 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=725148 Click here to view the press release (National Telecommunications and Information Administration Media)]]> Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:39:00 GMT FCC to Vote on Order to Update EPFD Framework https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=725083 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=725083 Click here to view the article (Via Satellite)]]> Thu, 9 Apr 2026 13:44:00 GMT Q&A: U.S. House space subcommittee chair on extending ISS, fostering commercial LEO market https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724951 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724951 Click here to view the article (Aerospace America)]]> Tue, 7 Apr 2026 17:23:00 GMT Europe’s space sector faces power shift as funding grows https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724565 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724565 Click here to view the article (SpaceNews)]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:33:00 GMT Second Starlink satellite suffers anomaly, generating debris https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724564 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724564 Click here to view the article (SpaceNews)]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:30:00 GMT The FCC is all in on "weird space stuff" https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724492 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724492 Click here to view the press release (SpaceNews)]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:40:00 GMT Space Commerce Official Proposes Streamlined Mission Authorization Process for Novel Space Missions https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724098 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=724098 Click here to view the article (Via Satellite)]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:04:00 GMT FAA Rescinds Proposed Orbital Debris Rule Amid Industry Pressure and Regulatory Reassessment https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=722213 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=722213 Click here to view the article (SatNews)]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:11:00 GMT Senate poised to reauthorize key small business fund used by Pentagon https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=721122 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=721122 Click here to view the article (Breaking Defense)]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:47:00 GMT Swiss Federal Council submits act on space operations: future-oriented framework conditions for Swis https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=721118 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=721118 Click here to view the article (Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN)]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:26:00 GMT Space Force seeks market answers on in-orbit refueling https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720828 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720828 Click here to view the article (SpaceNews)]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:43:00 GMT FCC Space Bureau chief shares agenda for regulatory reform https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720167 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720167 Click here to view the article (SpaceNews)]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:42:00 GMT Non-venture space startup investment hits post-SPAC high https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720040 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720040 Click here to view the article (SpaceNews)]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:39:00 GMT New UN forum seeks busting space traffic cooperation barriers https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720038 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=720038 Click here to view the article (Breaking Defense)]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:23:00 GMT Can current space law handle the new space age? https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=719977 https://satelliteconfers.org/news/news.asp?id=719977 Click here to view the article (Space.com)]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:12:00 GMT