Former NASA Chief Economist is New Head of Canadian Space Agency
Alexander MacDonald is the new President of the Canadian Space Agency. Canadian-born MacDonald was NASA’s Chief Economist until December 2024.
Farewell Swift
NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory reentered this morning, bringing the 22-year-old mission to an end.
Trump Issues “American Declaration of Freedom in Space”
President Trump issued a space proclamation yesterday. “The American Declaration of Freedom in Space” pledges that the United States will lead the exploration, development, use, and settlement of new frontiers throughout the solar system and beyond.
“Blue Tsunami” Puts Democrats in Control of House and Senate Next Year
Democratic victories in yesterday’s midterm elections are being touted not as a “Blue wave,” but a “Blue tsunami” as votes are counted throughout the country. The final tally is not in as of Wednesday morning at 8:00 am ET, but the Associated Press is projecting Democrats will have at least 54 seats in the Senate and 228 in the House, putting them in charge when the 120th Congress begins on January 3. Republicans remain in control of both chambers until then and will have to decide which legislative priorities to try and pass during these next two months.
“Blue Tsunami” Puts Democrats in Control of House and Senate Next Year
Democratic victories in yesterday’s midterm elections are being touted not as a “Blue wave,” but a “Blue tsunami” as votes are counted throughout the country. The final tally is not in as of Wednesday morning at 8:00 am ET, but the Associated Press is projecting Democrats will have at least 54 seats in the Senate and 228 in the House, putting them in charge when the 120th Congress begins on January 3. Republicans remain in control of both chambers until then and will have to decide which legislative priorities to try and pass during these next two months.
China Plans “Two Launches, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous” to Land Taikonauts on Moon
China is sharing more information about how it plans to land taikonauts on the Moon by 2030. Development of the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou crew spacecraft, and Lanyue lunar lander have been underway for some time, but how they expect to execute the landing is just being shared now.
What’s Happening in Space Policy November 1-8, 2026
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week plus a day of November 1-8, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess, except for pro forma sessions, until after the midterm elections.
Government Spending on Civil Space Topped $42 Billion in FY2026
Government spending on civil space activities is more than just NASA. A new Aerospace Corporation report details the $42.6 billion allocated for civil space in FY2026 and compares it to FY2025 and the still-pending request for FY2027. NASA is the largest share, but only 55 percent of the total. Overall, the report characterizes the civil space budget as going through tumultuous times with the White House and Congress out of sync and the FY2027 outcome uncertain.
What’s Happening in Space Policy October 25-November 1, 2026
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week plus a day of October 25-November 1, 2026 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess, except for pro forma sessions, until after the midterm elections.
NASA is Full Steam Ahead on Artemis III, IV and V
NASA officials projected confidence today in their plans to launch the Artemis III earth-orbital test flight in mid-2027 and land American astronauts on the Moon in 2028. Whether SpaceX’s Starship or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK2 gets there first is up in the air, but NASA expects both will deliver crews to the surface by the end of that year. The South Pole is still the destination, but they acknowledged more data is needed from robotic landers before making a final decision.