Alden Orrery – Regulatory Briefing – February 2025
EUROPE
European Union
EU reinforces Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme
On 29 January 2025, the European Commission announced the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme. Backed by a €100 million investment, the Programme supports the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and aims to strengthen space cooperation with Africa.
The Programme seeks to focus on three key areas:
- advancing the green transition by developing space-based early warning systems for extreme weather and climate-related events;
- strengthening institutional collaboration to improve decision-making and policy frameworks in the space sector; and
- strengthening the private sector by driving innovation and fostering a dynamic space-based data economy to promote sustainable growth across the continent.
Speaking on the programme, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, said: “The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme represents an important part for our cooperation with Africa, as we work together to harness the power of space technology to address global challenges.”
United Kingdom
UK Astronaut Becomes First Person with a Physical Disability Medically Cleared for ISS Mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on 14 February 2025 that British Paralympian and surgeon, John McFall, has been medically certified to undertake a long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Having lost his right leg at the age of 19, McFall is the first person with a disability to be medically approved to train for missions to the ISS.
Commenting on the accomplishment, McFall stated: “It’s great that we can say after a huge amount of work in the last 18 months that we have demonstrated that it’s technically possible for someone with a disability like mine to fly on a long duration mission. And now we’re progressing to the next phase and what we want to do is realise that opportunity to fly, so moving forward, we’re moving into the Mission Ready phase.”
UK Space Agency Invests £16 Million in Satellite-Constellation Projects
On 3 February 2025, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) awarded a total of £16 million to EnSilica plc and Excelerate Technology Ltd as part of its Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme. The funding aims to position the UK at the forefront of satellite communications innovation and capture a larger share of the satellite large constellation market. The C-LEO programme will invest up to £160 million in UK expertise over the next four years.
EnSilica plc, based in Oxfordshire, will receive £10 million to develop advanced silicon chips and software for a user terminal compatible with both UK and European constellations. Cardiff-based Excelerate Technology Ltd will be awarded £6 million to develop the small and flexible Mobility and Autonomy Market User Terminal (MAMUT), which will allow users to select the operator and orbit via an app, reducing costs and enhancing global configurability.
Commenting on the announcement, Telecoms Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said: “These government-backed projects will not only drive significant advancements in mobile communications but also help to bridge the digital divide by connecting communities in the most hard-to-reach areas.”
NORTH AMERICA
United States
Senators reintroduce SAFE Orbit Act to enhance space traffic management
On 5 February 2025, a bipartisan group of eight senators, led by Senator John Cornyn, reintroduced the Situational Awareness of Flying Elements in Orbit (SAFE Orbit) Act to formally authorise a space traffic coordination system under the Office of Space Commerce.
The bill proposes a system that includes a free public database and which issues conjunction data messages to alert operators to potential satellite collisions. However, it will not provide the more advanced services available from commercial providers. It also grants the Office of Space Commerce legal immunity from lawsuits arising from the use of these services.
Speaking on the SAFE Orbit Act, Senator Cornyn stated that it has the potential to “prevent dangerous and costly accidental collisions in low Earth orbit and improve access to data collection and analysis to help propel the United States into the next phase of space exploration.”
House Science Committee Seeks Review of FAA Launch Regulations
On 12 February 2025, the House Science Committee requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s launch regulations, commonly known as “Part 450”. Part 450 is intended to streamline the process for obtaining launch and re-entry licences. However, amid reports that the US space industry has voiced concerns about the complexity of Part 450, the House Science Committee’s letter calls on the GAO to investigate whether the FAA has sufficient procedures and guidance to support licence applicants, and to provide information on the timelines for reviewing licence applications.
Announcing the letter in a speech on 12 February 2025, Brian Babin, Representative of the House Science Committee, said: “This review will provide Congress with an objective look at existing procedures and offer insight into whether further improvements are needed through legislation or administrative action.”
AFRICA
Algeria
Algeria and Slovenia strengthen space technology cooperation
On 13 February 2025, the Algerian Space Agency and the Slovenian Space Office held a bilateral meeting in Algiers to establish a framework for collaboration in space technologies and applications. The meeting builds on a joint declaration signed in August 2024 between the Republic of Slovenia and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, aiming to create optimal conditions for sector-wide cooperation. It is anticipated that this bilateral initiative will soon be formalised through a mutual Memorandum of Understanding underlining its strategic importance for both nations.
Egypt
Egyptian and Kenyan Space Agencies Strengthen Ties with New MoU
On 29 January 2025, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Egyptian Space Agency and the Kenya Space Agency. The MoU focuses on collaboration in space exploration and the peaceful use of outer space. This latest agreement builds on ongoing joint projects between Kenya and Egypt, including the development of the African Development Satellite (Af-Dev Sat), the ClimCam project under the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and several capacity-building initiatives.
ASIA
India
India and United States reaffirm and expand collaboration in space innovation
On 13 February 2025, President Donald Trump of the United States and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of India launched the ‘US-India Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology (COMPACT) for the 21st Century’ initiative. This new framework is designed to drive transformative change across key pillars of bilateral cooperation.
Under the COMPACT initiative, the leaders announced the launch of INDUS Innovation – a strategic innovation bridge aimed at strengthening industry and academic partnerships between the United States and India, and fostering investments in space, energy and other emerging technologies to sustain their leadership in innovation.
While the joint statement did not specify further details regarding INDUS Innovation, including particular space-related areas of interest, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation on civil and commercial space endeavours. The announcement also highlighted the scheduled flight of an Indian astronaut on the Ax-4 private astronaut mission to the ISS in the coming spring.
Japan
Japan and United States reaffirm partnership in civil space and aeronautics
On 7 February 2025, Japan and the United States issued a joint statement reaffirming their dedication to an ongoing space partnership. The statement emphasised the two nations’ broader commitment to advancing peace and prosperity and highlighted continued collaboration in civil space, aeronautics, science and human exploration. Notably, it confirmed continued plans to work together on the upcoming Crew-10 mission to the ISS and on future lunar surface exploration under the Artemis missions.
OCEANIA
Australia
Gilmour Space Technologies Secures Final Airspace Approval for Orbital Rocket Launch
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has granted final airspace approval for Gilmour Space Technologies’ Eris rocket, paving the way for Australia’s first locally designed and built orbital rocket launch. After receiving final airspace approval from the CASA, Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space Technologies, announced on 19 February 2025 that the Eris rocket is scheduled for its orbital test flight in late March 2025 from the company’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport at Abbot Point in Queensland. The mission will mark the first orbital rocket launch from Australia since Britain’s Black Arrow launched from Woomera Rocket Range over 50 years ago.
Commenting on the development, Gilmour said: “It’s the first time we have formally set a launch date, both with the regulators and internally. There’s a buzz that it’s all getting real.”
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