US to ease restrictions on space-related exports to allies

The Biden administration is easing export restrictions on US commercial space companies to ship certain satellite and spacecraft-related items to allies and partners on Thursday, two people familiar with the matter said.

The changes are intended to make it easier for the growing US commercial space industry to expand sales while also protecting national security and foreign policy interests.

US space companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and large defence contractors with space units like Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies and Boeing, could benefit from the new rules.

Certain items involving remote sensing spacecraft or space-based logistics assembly, and servicing spacecraft will no longer need licences for shipment to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, one person said.

The rules could also help the US push ahead with the trilateral Aukus security pact between Britain, the US and Australia formed in 2021 to respond to China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region. Part of the pact is focused on technology sharing.

Some less sensitive satellite and spacecraft parts and components will no longer require licences for shipment to over 40 countries, the person said. The countries include Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and most of the European Union, the second person said.