Global space policy shifts as Washington hosts key industry summits next week

Next week, Washington, D.C. will host two major space events: the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) Galloway Symposium and the Americas Space Forum. Both gatherings come as global space policy sees fresh developments, including new commercial space plans from China and updates to U.S. defence legislation.

Meanwhile, Jared Isaacman has been renominated for NASA Administrator, and European nations have pledged to boost space funding.

The IISL Galloway Symposium will take place at the organisation’s D.C. office and remains free to attend. Running alongside it, the Americas Space Forum will bring together policymakers and industry leaders for discussions on regional space priorities.

In China, the national space agency has released a 22-measure plan to integrate commercial space activities into its national strategy. The goal is to establish a state-backed commercial space ecosystem by 2027. In the U.S., lawmakers are finalising the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Some officials are pushing for language that would restrict American investment in Chinese aerospace firms. This follows a national security wish list published earlier this week by former President Trump. Across the Atlantic, European Space Agency (ESA) member states have agreed to increase space spending. The move signals growing competition as nations expand their space capabilities.

The upcoming D.C. events will likely shape discussions on space governance and commercial expansion. China’s 2027 target for a state-backed space economy and potential U.S. investment curbs could reshape industry dynamics. With ESA’s funding boost and Isaacman’s renomination, global space policy remains in flux.