Reflect Orbital’s Space Mirror: The FCC Licensed the Radio, Not the Sunlight
Reflect Orbital's Earendil-1 licence was reissued on 9 October. Why the FCC says the mirror itself is beyond its reach, and what…
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Regulatory Updates
What changed in space regulation, who it binds and when it bites. Rule changes, consultations, enforcement and licensing developments tracked as they happen.
FCC Part 100: What the 7 October Guidance Means for Satellite Milestones and Surety Bonds
FCC Part 100 guidance of 7 October 2026 explains how satellite operators can switch to new milestones, drop surety bonds, and the…
Direct-to-Device Rules: SpaceX’s 15,000-Satellite Licence and the FCC’s Plan to Rewrite SCS
Direct-to-device rules are being rewritten: what SpaceX's 15,000-satellite licence and the FCC's 29 October vote on 13 SCS bands mean for operators.
Regulatory Updates11 min read
11 min
TraCSS and EU SST: What Their Joint Study on Sharing Space Traffic Data Shows
TraCSS and EU SST compared collision warnings for the same satellites. What the 7 October study shows about operator data, FCC rules and TraCSS funding.
Regulatory Updates10 min read
10 min
Upper C-Band Transition: What the FCC’s $6.3 Billion Clearing Plan Means for Satellite Operators
The Upper C-band transition moves satellite downlinks to 4.16-4.2 GHz by 2031. What the FCC order, the 19 October notices and Auction 115 mean for operators.
Regulatory Updates13 min read
13 min
From 25 to 456 Launches a Year: The FAA Opens Its Biggest Starship Environmental Review Yet
The FAA's Starship environmental review at Starbase will test up to 456 launches a year. What the October 2026 notices cover, the Florida reviews and deadlines.
Regulatory Updates12 min read
12 min
Satellite Spectrum Abundance: The FCC Opens 12.7 and 42 GHz to Satellites and Breaks From the ITU Table
The FCC's satellite spectrum order of 30 September 2026 explained: what opens in the 12.7 and 42 GHz bands, who gains, and the break from the…
Regulatory Updates11 min read
11 min
The FAA’s Five Part 450 Proposals: Small Fixes, a 4 November Deadline and a Bigger Fight Behind Them
The FAA's five Part 450 proposals of 5 October 2026 explained: what changes for launch licence applicants, who benefits, and the 4 November deadline.
Regulatory Updates13 min read
13 min
The Senate Passed Two Satellite Security Bills in One Day. Only One of Them Has Teeth
On 23 September the US Senate passed the Secure Space Act and the Satellite Cybersecurity Act. One bars the FCC from licensing satellites and earth stations…
Regulatory Updates6 min read
6 min
The EU Space Act: What One European Rulebook Would Change
120 articles, three pillars and a reach that follows the service rather than the operator. Where the file has got to in Council and Parliament, and…
Regulatory Updates6 min read
6 min
The FCC Five Year Deorbit Rule: Who It Binds and What It Requires
Twenty five years became five. The scope limits matter more than the headline: below 2,000 km, uncontrolled reentry, launches after 29 September 2024, and non-US operators…
Regulatory Updates7 min read
7 min
FAA Part 450 Explained: How a US Launch Licence Works Now the Legacy Rules Have Gone
The legacy launch licensing parts came out of the CFR in March 2026. What Part 450 requires, what the new launch user fee costs, and what…