Akin Space Law, Regulation and Policy Update | October 17, 2025

October 17, 2025

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As the U.S. government shutdown approaches its third week, Republicans look for defense and space funding as a lever to break the impasse, and defense budgets on both sides of the Atlantic are already reshaping the commercial space industry. Space Force looks to overhaul foreign military sales rules and wants to buy maneuverable commercial GEO satellites, and JPL announced 550 layoffs this week. Elsewhere in the world, China marked its 60th orbital launch of the year, and New Zealand’s space industry is clocking tremendous growth.

All this and more in this edition of Akin’s Space Law, Regulation and Policy Update.

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