Space Transportation Policy
President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Thursday that replaces a 2013 policy signed by former President Barack Obama. The new policy calls for the development of additional spaceports on federal land to support a projected surge in launches and reentries. According to the policy, by 2030 the US must support more than 1,000 launches and reentries every year to secure America's continued superiority in space.
The launch sector has changed dramatically since the previous policy was signed. Last year, there were 176 orbital launch attempts from US soil, nearly 10 times the number in 2013. SpaceX led the industry with 165 orbital launches of its Falcon 9 rocket, plus five suborbital test flights of the larger Starship. The policy emphasizes supporting the commercial space industry and assuring access to space.
Deportation and Community Formation
Meanwhile, in Mexico City, the Tabacalera neighborhood—known as 'Little LA'—has become a haven for Mexicans deported from the United States, many of whom spent years or decades living across the border and now find Mexico feels like a foreign country. With its wide avenues lined with palm trees, quaint cafes, and a mix of English and Spanish spoken on the streets, the area provides a familiar environment for those who have been removed under the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.
For many deportees, the neighborhood offers plentiful jobs and community support. They have built a new life in a place that feels both foreign and familiar, adapting to a country many left long ago. The phenomenon underscores the human impact of immigration policies and the resilience of those affected.