Main Events JULY-NOVEMBER 2023

July

• European Commission proposes the co-creation of transition pathways for different industrial ecosystems, including for the aerospace and defence industrial ecosystem
• European Commission approves Strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds
• EU Regulation establishes list of essential services under the CER Directive, covering space
• EU-Latin America and Caribbean Joint Declaration on a Digital Alliance is published, covering also space
• ESA and GSMA sign memorandum of intent on new communications innovation partnership
• EUSPA and UNOOSA launch new report on EU Space contribution to the Space2030 Agenda
• UK publishes National Space Strategy in Action
• UK issues report The Case for Space
• UK Space Agency publishes the Space Exploration Technology Roadmap
• US FAA launches Human Spaceflight Rulemaking Committee
• US House of Representatives rejects satellite spectrum licensing bill
• Ghana approves National Space Policy
• Côte d’Ivoire announces plans to launch its first satellite for EO
• New Zealand approves the Aotearoa New Zealand Aerospace Strategy
• Argentina signs the Artemis Accords
• Venezuela joins China’s Lunar Research Station project

August

• European Union commits not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests
• European Commission signs a new contribution agreement with the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) for the implementation of the Copernicus Security Service component
• Portuguese Space Agency joins European Space Policy Institute (ESPI)
• UK Space Agency announces the recipients to receive the first phase of its £20 million International Bilateral Fund investments
• India lands on the surface of the Moon
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) publishes an assessment about the Current Space Situation around the Moon
• Azerbaijan adopts a Law on Space Activities

September

• European Commission issues State of the Union 2023 Letter of Intent
• European Commission presents a targeted consultation about the EU legislative initiative on safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities (EU Space Law)
• European Commission and ESA sign contribution agreement under the Union Secure Connectivity Programme
• European Commission and the UK Government release a Joint Statement on the UK's association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus
• European Economic and Social Committee issues Opinion on the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence
• European Commission and Portugal inaugurate supercomputer in Portugal
• European Commission proposes Council Recommendation for a Critical Infrastructure Blueprint
• Portugal issues Order on civil liability insurance and liability for space operations
• Germany signs the Artemis Accords
• Germany adopts a new Space Strategy
• Spain signs agreement with ESA for the contracting and technical management of the country’s Atlantic Constellation
• UK Space Agency launches consultation on variable liability limits for orbital operations
• US Space Force announces release of guidelines for the use of commercial satellite services
• US DoD issues Space Policy Review and Strategy on Protection of Satellites
• UK launches £65 million funding call for space technologies and applications
• South Africa joins China’s International Lunar Research Station
• Uganda announces a satellite to aid military and security operations in the country
• India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States (I2U2 Group) announce a new joint space venture
• China's military establishes new facility for space domain awareness

October

• European Commission Work Programme for 2024 is published
• European Commission launches consultation process with stakeholders aiming to deliver European Defence Industrial Strategy
• European Commission publishes Recommendation on critical technology areas for the EU's economic security for further risk assessment with Member States
• European Commission selects consortium to conduct feasibility study on the future of European Earth Observation
• European Union and African Union hold a Space Dialogue on cooperation in space
• EUSPA announces Cassini Challenges
• ESA and the African Space Exploration Society (ASES) sign a collaboration agreement to leverage space technology for socio-economic growth in Senegal
• UK Space Agency invites proposals for emerging and innovative technology research and development under its National Space Innovation Programme
• US issues Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence
• US Space Force assesses priorities for modernising spaceports
• US and Australia sign agreement for US launches from Australia
• Senegal announces launch of first satellite in 2024
• Cameroon advances in the development of national space programme
• Kenya announces task force on AI
• India announces new space goals for 2035 and 2040
• Belarus, Pakistan and Azerbaijan join China’s Lunar Research Station project

November

• European Commission opens access to EU supercomputers to speed up AI development
• Council of the European Union approves conclusions on the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence
• Council of the European Union agrees to UK participation in the Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes
• Council of the European Union authorises negotiations with the US for the launch of Galileo satellites from the US
• Council of the European Union and Parliament reach provisional agreement of Cyber Resilience Act
• Council of the European Union adopts Data Act
• ESA officially launches Zero Debris Charter
• ESA approves Green Dossier
• EUSPA launches first Secure SATCOM Market and User Technology Report
• ITU to assess cislunar communications regulations
• UK aims to join Portugal and Spain in Atlantic Constellation through Open Cosmos satellite
• Portugal Council of Ministers approves in generality amendments to National Space Law
• Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) publishes Code of Conduct on Space Sustainability
• Norway officially opens Andøya spaceport
• Slovenia presents formal request for full membership of ESA
• Netherlands, Iceland and Bulgaria sign the Artemis Accords
• US Senate passes orbital debris removal bill
• US publishes Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Strategy
• Mozambique Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEMOC) is created
• South Africa launches the AI Institute of South Africa (AIISA)
• Djibouti launches its first satellite into orbit
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mauritian agency to design, assemble, integrate, test, launch and operate an Earth Observation satellite