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Secure World Foundation - May/June

Announcements

June 2013

Imaging Notes re-launches as Apogeo Spatial

Ray Williamson, SWF Senior Advisor and Editor of Imaging Notes, is pleased to announce the launch of Apogeo Spatial in early June 2013.  Ray will continue in his role as Editor for Apogeo Spatial working with Myrna James Yoo, Blueline Publishing, on this exciting new publication.

The Apogeo Spatial mission is to communicate the power of geospatial tools and technologies in managing the world’s scarce resources and environment, so that the global population has security—of water, food and energy.  Apogeo focuses on long-term sustainability and security of the planet and people. It provides visual intelligence elevating global awareness. Business, government and academic professionals find the information—and inspiration—for using geospatial tools to build a more sustainable world.

 

June 2013

2013 Space Security Index Executive Summary Released

Project Ploughshares released the Executive Summary of the 2013 Space Security Index at the June 2013 meeting of COPUOS. It is now available at the Space Security Index and SWF websites. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this important review of the previous year’s space security-related activities. The full report will be completed and released in September 2013. SWF is a major contributor to the SSI.

Recent SWF Events

May 16, 2013

SWF Co-Sponsors a Symposium on Legal and Policy Aspects of Space Cooperation Between Europe and BRICS Countries

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, the International Institute of Air and Space Law of Leiden Law School and the Department of Latin American Studies of the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, jointly organized the First Symposium on Legal and Policy Aspects of Space Cooperation between Europe and BRICS Countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The symposium was the first of its kind in the Netherlands, and probably all of Europe. Brussels Office Director Agnieszka Lukaszczyk chaired the "INTRA-BRICS Space Cooperation and BRICS Countries' Perspectives on Cooperation with Europe" panel. Ms. Lukaszczyk also spoke on the panel considering the outlook and recommendations in relation to space cooperation between Europe and BRICS. This event was co-sponsored by the Secure World Foundation and Laboratoire Europeen d'Anticipation Politique.

 

May 21, 2013

SWF Holds Panel Discussion on Cooperation vs. Competition in Outer Space Activities

Secure World Foundation, together with the Women in Aerospace Europe, organized an informal panel discussion entitled "Cooperation vs. Competition in Space Activities." The panel experts examined the present actors - states and the private sector - and their relationship to one another. 

 

June 17, 2013

SWF Holds Two Panel Discussions on Radio Frequency Interference and Space Sustainability

On Monday, June 17, 2013, SWF hosted two panel discussions on radio frequency (RF) interference and space sustainability. SWF gathered a group of experts who discussed the direct relationship between RF communications and space sustainability, as well as the threat that radio frequency interference poses to space sustainability. SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden presented a new fact sheet entitled "Radio Frequency Spectrum, Interference, and Satellites Fact Sheet."

 

June 25 - 26, 2013

SWF Co-hosts UN-SPIDER Bonn Expert Meeting on the Use of Space-Based Information of Early Warning Systems

Taking into consideration the role of early warning systems in minimizing damages and losses in case of disasters, UN-SPIDER organized the United Nations/Germany Expert Meeting on the Use of Space-based Information in Early Warning Systems with financial support from the Government of Germany and in cooperation with the Secure World Foundation. The expert meeting took place in Bonn, Germany and brought together space technology and disaster management communities representing national, regional and international organizations as well as internationally active private companies to share experiences and lessons learned regarding use of space-based information in early warning systems; to identify needs and to discuss knowledge management strategies to improve existing early warning systems through the incorporation of recent advances in space-based applications. Brussels Office Director Agnieszka Lukaszczyk gave an opening speech together with Juan-Carlos Villagran of UNOOSA and Christiane Lechtenboerger of DLR. Ms. Lukaszczyk also gave a key note presentation on early warning in case of Near Earth Objects.

Publications

May 24, 2013

Victoria Samson Published in American Foreign Policy Council's Defense Dossier

SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson was published in the American Foreign Policy Council's May issue of the Defense Dossier. The article entitled "A New Arena for Cooperation" explores the benefits and challenges surrounding a U.S.-India collaboration in space. The article also discusses India's current role in the international space community and the importance of including India in discussions on the draft International Code of Conduct.

 

June 2, 2013

Brian Weeden Publishes Op-Ed in Defense News on U.S. Response to China's ASAT Testing

SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden published an op-ed in Defense News that calls for the U.S. government to put forth a more public stance on China's anti-satellite (ASAT) testing activities. By remaining silent on the topic, the current administration lacks the ability to pressure China to act more responsibly in space. 

 

June 7, 2013

Report from the Symposium on Legal and Policy Aspects of Space Cooperation between Europe and BRICS Countries Released

We are pleased to release the summary report from the First Symposium on Legal and Policy Aspects of Space Cooperation between Europe and BRICS Countries. The event was organized by the International Institute of Air and Space Law of Leiden Law School and the Department of Latin American Studies of the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University. The event was co-sponsored by the Secure World Foundation and Laboratoire Europeen d'Anticipation Politique. 

To read the report, please click here.

 

June 17, 2013

SWF Releases New Fact Sheet on Radio Frequency Spectrum and Satellites

Secure World Foundation has released a new fact sheet entitled "Radio Frequency Spectrum, Interference and Satellites." The fact sheet provides an overview of the major technical, policy, legal and security issues surrounding RF spectrum and satellites.

 

June 27, 2013

SWF Releases Updated Fact Sheets

SWF has published updated versions of three fact sheets on the current international initiatives addressing space sustainability: the United Nations (UN) Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Transparency and Confidence Building Measures (TCBMs) for Outer Space Activities, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Long Term Sustainability of Space Activities (LTSSA) Working Group, and the proposed International Code of Conduct (ICoC) for Outer Space Activities. 

Presentations

May 2, 2013

SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden Participates in Panel Discussion on U.S.-China Cooperation in Space

On May 2, 2013, SWF Technical Advisory Brian Weeden spoke as part of a panel session organized by The Stimson Center on the issue of U.S. - China cooperation in space. The panel was preceded by a short presentation from Dr. John Logsdon, Professor Emeritus of International and Political Affairs at George Washington University's Elliot School, on the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz docking mission and its impact on U.S. - Soviet relationships during the Cold War.

The panel consisted of Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese, professor at the Naval War College and SWF Advisory Committee member; Dr. Clay Moltz, professor at the Naval Postgraduate School; and Brian Weeden. The discussion focused on why U.S. - China cooperation might be beneficial, what the political challenges to such cooperation would be, and some ideas for possible areas of cooperation between the two countries.

 

June 12 - 21, 2013

SWF Actively Participates in the 56th Session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS)

The fifty-sixth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was held from June 12 - 21, 2013 at the United Nations Office in Vienna. As every year, SWF actively participated in various working groups, expert groups and overall discussions. On Monday, June 17th, SWF Brussels Office Director Agnieszka Lukaszczyk gave a statement to the Subcommittee on behalf of the Secure World Foundation.