New
Scientist: Since 1999 the US
International
Traffic in Arms Regulations has regulated satellites and
related technology as munitions. Known as ITAR, the law
severely limited the ability of American satellite companies to
sell their products internationally. On 3 January, President
Obama signed a revision to the law that allows for the export
of Earth-orbiting satellites and associated technology except
to some countries, including China, Iran, and North Korea. ITAR
will also now allow foreign students at US universities to have
access to technical documents from US aerospace companies.
However, it still restricts technology such as crew capsules
and long-distance spacecraft. That could hamper international
efforts to develop spacecraft for exploring asteroids or other
planets.
