Space Policy

Who owns the vast riches of space? We know that there are great deposits of materials of great value on the Moon, in asteroids, and scattered throughout the solar system. The spacefaring powers of Earth will seek them out to support our expansion throughout cislunar space and beyond. But to avoid the resource-related conflicts that have plagued us on Earth for centuries, new legal regimes much evolve to supplement and, in some cases, replace existing legal structures. We are seeing some of the first attempts at formal policy with the Artemis Accords, but these are not yet universally accepted and only begin to cover the many needs of a truly spacefaring species. Join some of the top legal scholars in space law as we strive to see the future of policy in the domain of space.

Co-Chair:

Steve Wolfe

President and Co-Founder

Beyond Earth Institute

Co-Chair:

Steve Wolfe

President and Co-Founder

Beyond Earth Institute

Steven Wolfe is President and Co-Founder of the Beyond Earth Institute. He is also Deputy Executive Director for Global Spaceport Alliance and partner at CWSP International. He serves as the Space and Board of Editors for the Journal of Space Philosophy. Steve served in Washington as the executive director of the Congressional Space Caucus and drafted the Space Settlement Act of 1988. The bill was signed into law as part of the NASA Authorization bill. Steve is the author of The Obligation: A Journey to Discover Human Purpose on Earth and in the Cosmos.

Lindsey Rogers

Manager of Communications and Outreach

Beyond Earth Institute

Lindsey Rogers is the Manager of Communications and Outreach for the Beyond Earth Institute. Raised and residing in New Jersey, she is newly entering into the space industry after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor’s Degree of Finance in 2014. Combining her analytical background and her passion for space, Lindsey is currently working towards completing her Master’s Degree of Space Studies at the University of North Dakota.

Speakers

Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar

Executive Vice President

Government Operations & Strategic Communications, Axiom Space

Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar

Executive Vice President

Government Operations & Strategic Communications, Axiom Space

A national influence in space policy and programs for more than two decades, Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar directs Axiom’s work with local, state, and federal government authorities. As Axiom is a key partner in NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Commercialization strategy and the leading commercial space company in Space City, she liaises directly as a thought leader with the U.S. government’s executive and legislative branches.

Mary Lynne founded and was most recently President & CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, an industry trade group of more than 60 companies supporting NASA’s programs in human exploration and science and promoting space commerce and the development of space technology. Her previous experience includes roles as Senior Policy Advisor for the ISS National Laboratory, Member of the Board of Directors at the American Astronautical Society, and managing the Flight Operations Group and serving as the Chief Scientist for Commercial Payloads on the ISS Program at Boeing.

The most consequential committees in the space industry count or counted Mary Lynne as a member: the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group, the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC), and the Executive Committee for the Space Studies Board of the National Academies of Science (6-year term ended May 2021). A holder of B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Factors from the University of Cincinnati, she is also Fellow of the National Research Society and an Associate Fellow of AIAA and previously served on the National Research Council’s Committee on Human Spaceflight.

Paul Stimers

Partner

K&L Gates

Paul Stimers is an attorney in the Washington, DC office of K&L Gates, a global law firm, where he co-leads the public policy practice. He focuses on working with Congress and the Administration on issues related to commercial spaceflight and other disruptive technologies. He helped draft and pass the 2015 Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, and has been involved in all major space-related federal legislation since 2008. His commentary on property rights in space has been published by the Wall Street Journal, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Space Review.

Tyler Bender

Research Associate

Beyond Earth Institute

Tyler Bender

Research Associate

Beyond Earth Institute

Tyler Ryan Bender is a Research Associate with the Beyond Earth Institute. His current work with Beyond Earth is focused on the potential long-term impact of NASA’s Artemis program. He is a Marine Corps veteran and has a master’s degree in International Relations from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

Tyler is also a former independent candidate for the U.S. Congress. During his brief, but inspired, 2018 campaign to represent Indiana’s 3rd district, he advocated for an end to partisan gridlock and stronger U.S. leadership in expanding humanity’s presence in outer space.

Matthew Harris

Space Focus Area Lead

Avantus Federal, LLC

Matthew Harris is the Space Focus Area Lead for Avantus Federal, LLC – a mission-focused space services and solutions company. He is also Director of Strategy and Governance for Beyond Earth Institute. His current work focuses on the policy, technical, and financial aspects of inner solar system communications, navigation, and data transmission infrastructure.

Courtney Stadd

Vice President

Beyond Earth Institute

Courtney Stadd

Vice President

Beyond Earth Institute

Courtney has held federal agency leadership positions at Commerce, Transportation, the White House (Senior Director, National Space Council), and worked directly for three NASA Administrators, including as Chief of Staff/White House Liaison. Drafted numerous Presidential directives encouraging a competitive commercial space industry. He was involved with drafting of the Space Launch Act of 1984, as well as leading the development and implementation of the original regulations for licensing commercial launch vehicles. He was also associated with pathfinder industry sectors including commercial space launch vehicles, GPS, high resolution satellite remote sensing, commercial expandable space modules, telecommunications (EVP, TerreStar), quality assurance/supply chain software tools.

Daniel Oberhaus

Science Writer

Haus Biographics

Daniel Oberhaus is a science writer based in New York City. He is the founder of Haus Biographics, a deep tech communications firm, and was a former staff writer at Wired magazine covering space exploration and the future of energy. His first book, Extraterrestrial Languages, is about the art and science of interstellar message design and was published by MIT Press in 2019. His next book, The Silicon Shrink, is about AI and psychiatry and will be published by MIT Press in 2024.

Arnie Christianson

Sr. Director, Capture

Inmarsat Government

Arnie Christianson

Sr. Director, Capture

Inmarsat Government

Arnie Christianson has been in the satellite and space industry for over 25 years working in the area of satellite communications for most of that time. He led the CNN Satellites and Transmissions group from 1995 through 2013 where he developed and supported cutting-edge IP-based satellite transmission technologies, winning an Emmy and multiple industry awards for CNN’s coverage of major events. After CNN, Arnie was VP of Aero Service Delivery, providing in-flight internet to commercial and private jets and supporting maritime and fixed data customers with the latest high-speed satellite-based internet systems. Currently with Inmarsat Government, Arnie directs proposal and program capture activities for satellite-based US government customers. He’s active in the Beyond Earth Foundation and serves on the board of Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI).

John C. Mankins

Mankins Space Technologies, Inc.

National Space Society Board of Directors

John C. Mankins, President of Mankins Space Technology is an internationally recognized leader in space systems and technology innovation, and as a highly effective manager of large-scale technology R&D programs. Mr. Mankins’ 25-year career at NASA and CalTech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) ranged from flight projects and space mission operations, to systems level innovation and advanced technology research & development management. He is also well known as an innovator in R&D management. For example, building on the original NASA ‘technology readiness level’ (TRL) scale for technology assessment (defined first with 6 or 7 levels in the 1970s), he extended the scale to flight systems and operations in the late 1980s (TRLs 8 and 9), published the first detailed definitions of the TRLs in 1995, and promoted the use of the scale by the US Department of Defense in the late 1990s. Before leaving NASA, Mr. Mankins was the manager of Exploration Systems Research and Technology within the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate with responsibility for a $416.8M annual budget, involving more than 100 individual projects and over 3,000 personnel. For 10 years, he was the manager of Advanced Concepts Studies at NASA, and the lead for critical studies of space solar power, highly reusable space transportation, affordable human exploration approaches, and other topics. He was the creator or co-creator of numerous novel concepts, including the ‘MagLifter’ electromagnetic launch assist system, the Internet-based NASA ‘Virtual Research Center’ the ‘Solar Clipper’ interplanetary transport vehicle, the ‘SunTower’ space solar power system, the ‘Hybrid Propellant Module’ for in-space refueling, the ‘HabBot’ mobile planetary outpost architecture, the Advanced Technology Lifecycle Analysis System (ATLAS), and others. In recognition of his accomplishments, he has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (of which he was the first recipient).

Nathan Whigham

President

EN Capital

Nathan Whigham

President

EN Capital

Nathan Whigham has been placing debt and equity since 2006 and has been involved in over $1B of transactions up and down the capital stack. He is the Founder and President of EN Capital, a capital advisory firm based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prior to founding EN Capital he held positions at CleanFund Commercial PACE Capital & Nebo Capital, a boutique commercial real estate capital advisory firm. Nathan has also been a renewable energy developer and entrepreneur. He holds a graduate certificate in Space Law through the Law School at the University of Mississippi, an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona along with a California Real Estate Broker’s License.

Sean Hadley

Chief Operating Officer

Beyond Earth Institute

Mr. Hadley is an Attorney, Lecturer and Legislative Policy Advisor with over two decades of experience helping organizations achieve their public policy goals.

Mr. Hadley’s research agenda focuses on modernizing legal systems at the state and national level to enable the long-term human presence in space. His previous conference paper and presentation at ISDC (2019) focused on novel state government solutions to unlock resources and opportunities for space activities.

Mr. Hadley’s background includes frequent work on Capitol Hill, where he previously represented the National Governors Association and worked for the former U.S. Senate Minority Leader. On the state level, he represents the New Jersey Education Association and advises state agencies and government officials on educational policy.
He also serves as Associate Faculty at Rutgers University, where he teaches law and public policy.

In addition to his law degree, Mr. Hadley holds a Masters of Science Degree in Public Policy from Rutgers University.

Laura Montgomery

Attorney and Proprietor

Ground Based Space Matters, LLC

Laura Montgomery

Attorney and Proprietor

Ground Based Space Matters, LLC

Laura Montgomery teaches space law at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. In her private practice she specializes in regulatory space law, with an emphasis on commercial space transportation and the Outer Space Treaties. She provides expert opinion on the Commercial Space Launch Act, and its implementing regulations governing launch, reentry, and spaceports. She has testified several times to the Space Subcommittees of the House and Senate on matters of space regulation and international obligation. Ms. Montgomery spent over two decades with the Federal Aviation Administration working on commercial space regulatory issues.

Michelle L.D. Hanlon

President

National Space Society

Michelle is Co-Director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law and its Center for Air and Space Law. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Space Law, the world’s oldest law journal dedicated to the legal problems arising out of human activities in outer space and the Faculty Advisor for its sister publication, the Journal of Drone Law and Policy. Michelle is a Co-Founder and President of For All Moonkind, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that is the only organization in the world focused on protecting human cultural heritage in outer space. For All Moonkind has been recognized by the United Nations as a Permanent Observer to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Michelle is also the chair of the International Committee of the National Space Society and the mentor to the newly-formed National Space Society Legal Fellows program. Michelle received her B.A. in Political Science from Yale College and her J.D. magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center. She earned her LLM in Air and Space Law from McGill University. Prior to focusing on aviation and space law, Michelle was engaged in a private business law practice. Her legal career commenced with the restructuring of sovereign debt for a number of South and Latin American countries and evolved into the negotiation and implementation of cross-border technology mergers and acquisitions. Her subsequent solo practice advised entrepreneurs across four continents on all aspects of bringing their innovative ideas to market: from basic corporate formation to financings and buyouts. Michelle continues to provide advice and counsel in respect of all aspects of air, space and cyber law through the consulting firm of ABH Aerospace, LLC.

Aaron Oesterle

Governmental Affairs Associate

Space Frontier Foundation

Aaron Oesterle

Governmental Affairs Associate

Space Frontier Foundation

Currently Mr. Oesterle serves as the Governmental Affairs Associate at the Space Frontier Foundation. Considered by space insiders to be one of most respected and hardest working space experts in the country, he has played a behind-the-scenes role in space policy for over a decade. Previously he was Vice President at PoliSpace, an independentspace policy consulting firm. While there, he often drafted and helped prepare Congressional testimony on behalf of dozens of space companies and organizations. He also served for many years both as a board member and as the Executive Director for the Space Frontier Foundation.

Aaron is well known and trusted by Congressional space staffers, nonprofits, and the space activist community. While he was the DC Representative for the National Space Society, he helped draft the Space Exploration, Development and Settlement Bill, which influenced other bills developed by the the U.S. Senate.

Aaron graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Science Technology and Society.

Robert “Bob” Brumley

Chairman

CommStar Space Communications

ROBERT (BOB) BRUMLEY IS A CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMSTAR^TM SPACE COMPANIES.

Robert (Bob) Brumley brings extensive executive experience in the management and financing of early stage ventures, particularly in aerospace, telecommunications and defense.

In June, 2020, Bob and his colleagues at Marble Arch Partners, LLC and the executive team at the Laser Light^TM Companies announced the launch of CommStar Space Communications, LLC, or CommStar^TM.

CommStar^TM intends on deploying CommStar-1^TM in 2023 at an orbit location between the earth and the moon to serve as a high capacity, software-centric data relay satellite in the Cislunar Service Area. CommStar-1^TM is being designed in cooperation with Thales Alenia Space to serve as a hybrid satellite – RF & Laser Optics – with significant onboard capabilities, serving a validated customer demand for DTE, and Bi-Directional data communications between the earth and moon for commercial, civil science, and government customers.

Bob was a Presidential Appointee (Senate Confirmed) in the Reagan Administration, serving in both terms. Amongst his duties in the Reagan Administration was Executive Director of the Commercial Space Working Group of the NSC and EPC. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Schedule for Space Policy