Main events July-November 2024

November

• Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA) on the security and exchange of classified information enters in force
• ESA chooses Portuguese Santa Maria island to receive Space Rider’s maiden flight
• Portuguese Space Agency inaugurates its headquarters in Santa Maria
• Portugal rectifies Space Activities Regulation
• Denmark signs the Artemis Accords
• Italy announces decision to launch rockets from the Luigi Broglio Space Center in Kenya
• United States (US) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces establishment of committee (SpARC) to review launch licensing regulations
• US FAA announces is has ended fiscal year 2024 with a record 148 licensed commercial space operations
• US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revises satellite spectrum sharing rules
• South African National Space Agency (SANSA) provides update on the National Communication Satellite Strategy (SatCom)
• Ghana launches National Space Policy
• Democratic Republic of Congo and Monacosat sign agreement for Satellite Internet Project
• Zimbabwe launches second satellite, ZIMSAT-2
• Starlink gains approval to operate in Chad and seeks operating licenses in Tanzania and Morocco
• Eutelsat Group and Q-KON Africa sign multi-year agreement to expand Low-Earth Orbit satellite services across Sub-Saharan Africa
• Australia issues first orbital launch permit
• Russia offers to build spaceports for African and other friendly countries

October

• UN Fourth Committee approves text on “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space” (document A/C.4/79/L.9) urging the prevention of an arms race in outer space
• NATO launches multinational cooperation initiatives to enhance deterrence and defence, including to further develop space technologies
• Council of the European Union publishes Decision (EU) 2024/2709 on the conclusion of the agreement between the EU and the US setting forth security procedures for the launch of Galileo satellites from US territory
• European Commission awards IRIS² concession contract
• ESA issues European Exploration Strategy aimed to consolidate Europe's position in space exploration
• Portuguese Space Authority approves amendments to the Space Activities Regulation
• Spain launches ESA's Phi-Lab NET in Barcelona to boost space innovation
• Spanish and Italian space agencies sign cooperation agreement on space
• Spain-based Indra completes acquisition of Deimos
• France, Germany and New Zealand join Space Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender
• UK and Canada announce satellite collaboration
• UK and New Zealand agree blueprint for satellite removal and servicing missions
• Eight commercial spaceports sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Estonia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic and Chile sign the Artemis Accords
• US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announces rules to modernize space-related export controls
• Inauguration of the African Space Agency is announced to take place at the NewSpace Africa Conference 2025 in Cairo
• Kenya space agency invites stakeholders to participate on the Draft Kenya Space Bill 2024
• United Arab Emirates approve establishment of Supreme Space Council
• China releases space science development program for 2024-2050

September

• UN adopts Pact for the Future covering agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space
• Draghi’s report on the future of European competitiveness includes recommendations for the space sector, including removal of ESA’s geographical return principle, harmonisation of licensing requirements and a Space Industrial Fund
• EUSPA announces the implementation of the GOVSATCOM Hubs
• ESA issues new Earth Observation Science Strategy
• ESPI publishes report on space debris mitigation
• Portuguese Space Authority issues space license for satellite Prometheus-1, of  University of Minho, and for PoSAT-2, by Lusospace
• Portuguese event on Earth Observation takes place
• Portuguese Aerospace Centre for Technology and Innovation (CTI) is launched
• German government releases key points for a proposed German Space Act
• US FAA releases final rule on the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act
• US NASA announces new space sustainability division in NASA
• Peru and São Tomé e Principe become members of AIR CENTRE’s international network
• Senegal's Space Agency signs cooperation agreement on the International Lunar Research Station
• Russia signs satellite agreement with three west African governments
• China publishes information on future manned lunar mission

August

• Norway’s Andøya Spaceport receives launch site operator licence
• Satellite infrastructure for reception of EUMETSAT data is deployed across Africa
• Egyptian space agency unveils plan on space capabilities
• Indra signs contract to acquire Spain-based Deimos

July

• NATO States sign initial contract for the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS)
• European Parliament publishes Resolution on the Strategic Compass and EU space-based defence capabilities
• ESA publishes its Space Environment Report 2024
• ESA Council adopts Resolution on European launch services and access to space
• New European Ariane 6 rocket is launched, reinstating EU’s access to space
• Portuguese Space Agency issues catalogue of sites and facilities for space research activities
• Portuguese satellite ISTSAT-1 is launched
• Sweden approves first defence and security strategy for space
• US House of Representatives passes NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024
• Technology Safeguards Agreement between US and Australia enters into force
• Brazil publishes law instituting rules applicable to national space activities