Weekly Space Report 

New Space Activities Act Progresses

The draft of Poland’s new Space Activities Act is moving through the legislative process, marking a significant step toward full orbital independence and compliance with international space law. The proposed regulations, designed to align with the EU Space Act, stipulate that all space activities by Polish entities, whether scientific or economic, require a permit from the President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).

A key aspect of this Act is the official creation of a national register of space objects, which would formally recognize Poland as a „launching state” under the UN’s Registration Convention. The regulations cover activities conducted from within Poland, as well as those carried out by Polish citizens or entities from foreign spaceports. This legal framework aims to accelerate the growth of the domestic space sector by providing a stable and competitive business environment while also addressing critical issues like insurance and space debris.

NASA Preps Artemis IV Core Stage

NASA’s preparations for its deep space human exploration program, Artemis, continued this week. News confirmed that a key piece of the Artemis IV moon rocket, the Core Stage of the Space Launch System (SLS), was being prepped for the lunar mission.

Artemis IV is currently planned as the first crewed flight that will deliver the Orion crew capsule and the powerful Gateway (the lunar space station) elements into lunar orbit. This Core Stage preparation underscores the ongoing, multi-mission effort to build the infrastructure necessary for a sustained human presence on and around the Moon, highlighting the steady cadence of the United States’ deep space exploration program.

China’s Cargo Dragon Undocking from ISS

Demonstrating the routine logistics of orbital operations, the Cargo Dragon (CRS-33) spacecraft autonomously undocked from the Harmony module of the International Space Station (ISS). After a four-month stay supporting the orbital laboratory’s resupply needs, the uncrewed capsule performed its undocking maneuver.

Following its departure from the ISS, the Cargo Dragon spent time in Earth orbit before beginning its controlled descent. It is scheduled to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, returning crucial scientific experiments and essential cargo back to Earth. This mission marks another successful commercial resupply flight, demonstrating the critical role private space companies play in maintaining continuous operations on the ISS.

Perseid Meteor Shower Activity Commences

The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most spectacular annual celestial events, officially became active this week, starting on July 17.

The Perseids are caused by debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle and are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. While the shower is active until August 23, the peak of up to 100 meteors per hour is not expected until the night of August 12 into the morning of August 13. Skywatchers should note that the full moon on August 9 may slightly affect peak visibility by brightening the sky. However, the period between July 18 and 28, especially around the new moon on July 24, offers favorable viewing conditions due to reduced moonlight.