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🇪🇺 In Space News, Jeff Foust writes that the EU has unveiled its long-anticipated space law, but details of how its space sustainability and other provisions will be implemented could take years to work out:
‘The European Commission released June 25 its legislative proposal for the EU Space Act, which would set rules on satellite and launch operations for its 27 member states. The draft bill, to be considered by the European Council and European Parliament, sets rules for entities operating satellites in Europe on topics such as collision avoidance, debris remediation and cybersecurity.
“It targets the most important problems and growing dangers that can endanger our future in space, namely, that space is increasingly congested and contested,” said Andrius Kubilius, the EU commissioner for defense and space, in a June 25 speech announcing the EU Space Act.
The act is meant to harmonize regulations among EU member states. Kubilius noted that only 12 of 27 EU nations have national space laws, whose contents vary. “This fragmentation is bad for business, bad for competitiveness, bad for our future in space,” he said.’ …
Implementation could clash with national laws. France, for example, updated its national space law in 2024, replacing a 25-year reentry rule with a more complex approach where the post-mission disposal time is no more than three times the spacecraft’s operational lifetime, and not exceeding 25 years. However, spacecraft in LEO constellations of 100 to 1,000 satellites have a post-mission disposal time of five years, or two years for constellations of more than 1,000 satellites.’
👩💼 Meanwhile, developments in the space sector and elsewhere are creating new opportunities for ambitious young lawyers, says the FT:
For years, practice areas such as mergers and acquisitions of listed companies, commercial litigation and banking have been among the routine favourites for young lawyers looking to qualify into areas that promise a strong pipeline of work and, with it, top career prospects.
However, with the growth of technology and a shifting geopolitical landscape, new areas are emerging that may become the next big ticket for young lawyers seeking stardom.
Areas of law once considered niche, such as tariffs, are coming to the fore as the geopolitical landscape shifts in reaction to new trade tensions spurred by US President Donald Trump. And cyber security is growing in prominence as large businesses and organisations, such as UK retailer Marks and Spencer, suffer extensive fallout from high-profile attacks.
Projected developments in space and in neurotechnology also look set to create more demand over the next decade for lawyers who can advise on such specialist areas, adds Karnik.
🐝 Drones have proved invaluable to the Ukrainian war effort, but countermeasures are growing in sophistication. Robert Brüll writes in Defense Opinion that NATO must focus on EMI shielding, which is standard in other sectors:
‘Most of the drones used by Ukraine in the conflict have been small, first-person view drones or light reconnaissance models. But their effect has been huge, keeping costs low and casualties lower and repelling Russia’s more industrial, traditional forces. But those drones have one fatal flaw: they depend on signals. GPS, remote guidance and real-time data links are what make drones effective. Cut the signal, and you cut out the drone’s brain. The drone becomes scrap with wings.
That weakness might not be new, but the scale of drone use makes it more relevant than ever. The air is thick with radio interference, spoofing attacks and jamming. Reports suggest that Russia is neutralizing 70 percent to 80 percent of Ukraine’s drones before they complete their missions. And they’re not being shot down, but blinded, tricked or fried. Which isn’t cheap. A drone that costs $1,000 but only survives one in five missions might as well cost $5,000.
So far, the industry has focused on speed, payload and artificial intelligence, emphasizing better cameras, smarter targeting and longer range. But one thing has been missing, and that’s resilience. And more to the point, protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI).’
📺 And now NASA is coming to Netflix, reports The Hill:
‘Audiences now will have another option to stream rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks, mission coverage, and breathtaking live views of Earth from the International Space Station.
“The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 calls on us to share our story of space exploration with the broadest possible audience,” said Rebecca Sirmons, general manager of NASA+ at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “Together, we’re committed to a Golden Age of Innovation and Exploration – inspiring new generations – right from the comfort of their couch or in the palm of their hand from their phone.”
Through this partnership, NASA’s work in science and exploration will become even more accessible, allowing the agency to increase engagement with and inspire a global audience in a modern media landscape, where Netflix reaches a global audience of more than 700 million people.’
🛰️ Jean-François Morizur, CEO of Cailabs, appeared on Alain Gavin’s Tech Command Investing podcast to discuss how laser communications are a 'new frontier for defence, connectivity and global infrastructure’:
‘From battlefield coordination to autonomous operations, we uncover how this French deep-tech startup is carving out a critical role in one of the most advanced corners of space and defence technology.
Jean-François unpacks the breakthrough that’s helping Cailabs overcome atmospheric turbulence, one of the last great technical hurdles to scaling laser comms, and explains why this could unlock real-time, unjammable connectivity between orbit and Earth.
We also dive into the investor landscape, the battle for spectrum dominance, and how AI is fuelling unprecedented demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency links from space to edge. With €46 million raised and defence agencies already taking notice, this conversation charts where laser comms are heading and why they might soon be as essential as GPS.’
🇨🇦 And finally, two Canadian schoolchildren have sent a patriotic Lego Man into space: