We are currently seeing a global resurgence in interest and activities on the Moon, featuring governmental and commercial missions from a wide range of actors. This includes two major initiatives for returning people to the Moon and maintaining a sustained presence there: the Artemis program, led by the United States, and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which is jointly led by China and Russia. Both initiatives focus on their scientific objectives and dedication to the peaceful exploration of space for the benefit of all humanity.
New Signatories to the Space Industry Statement in Support of International Commitments to Not Conduct Destructive Anti-Satellite Testing
This brings the total to 38 companies from 11 countries that have signed this statement thus far, demonstrating an interest in the protection & long-term sustainability of the space environment, including the future economic development of low Earth orbit.
Thank you to the broad group of space industry actors who have joined as signatories. This statement remains open for signature; if your company is interested in joining these 38 companies, please contact Ian A. Christensen.
SAVE THE DATE: 6th Summit for Space Sustainability
Location: The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Tokyo
Make sure to mark your calendars for this unique opportunity to collaborate with global stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society, all committed to developing solutions for space sustainability.
The 6th Summit for Space Sustainability will be held in coordination with the APAC’s leading commercial space conference SPACETIDE 2024, which will take place in Tokyo from July 8-10, 2024.
The goal of the AMOS Dialogue series is to facilitate discussion among key stakeholders in space situational awareness (SSA), thereby promoting greater collaboration and cooperation to enhance SSA for safe and responsible space activities. To accomplish this, the Dialogue brings together representatives from current and future SSA programs and initiatives around the world with a variety of end users and stakeholders so that they may exchange information and views in a not-for-attribution setting. The reports from previous Dialogues can be found here.
The 2023 AMOS Dialogue discussed how to leverage the growing number of industry and civil society best practices to move towards a global set of space traffic management “rules.” Overall, many participants felt that these best practices should be aspirational and not just rubber-stamping what is already being done and that they needed to be fairly easy to implement in order to ensure compliance amongst all actors (not just the more mature space powers). Participants also identified a few areas that should be prioritized, such as protections for human spaceflight, dealing with non-maneuverable objects, and sharing of owner-operator ephemeris.
New Tracking Sheet on Lunar Space Cooperation Initiatives
By SWF Program Associate Seth Walton
SWF has published a new tracking sheet summarizing the signatories to the Artemis Accords and to the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The tracking sheet provides a detailed list of which States have signed either of these two major State-led international civil space lunar cooperation frameworks, links to the official announcement, and also the rationale provided by the signing State.
SWF Staff Participated in the Eilene Galloway Symposium
SWF staff participated in the 18th Eilene M. Galloway Symposium on Critical Issues in Space Law, organized by the Space Court Foundation, and held at Hogan Lovells in Washington, DC. This symposium was intended to annually honor the legacy of Eilene M. Galloway, a pioneer in the fields of space law and policy. SWF Chief Director of Space Security and Stability Victoria Samson spoke on a panel that examined governance concerns of cislunar and deep space activities. SWF Chief Program Officer Brian Weeden participated in a panel that discussed the tension between commercial innovation and government oversight.
January 25 | Virtual
SWF Summarizes Global Efforts on Space Sustainability
SWF Chief Program Officer, Dr. Brian Weeden, recently participated in a webinar organized by the African Space Leadership Institute as part of their series on space sustainability. Dr. Weeden's presentation summarized how the space community has moved from raising awareness of space sustainability to proposing initiatives for tackling key sustainability challenges. He also gave an overview of space sustainability initiatives put forward by both governments and the private sector, along with remaining areas of debate and obstacles to implementation.
SWF Moderates Panel at the Space Situational Awareness Workshop
SWF Chief Director of Space Security and Stability Victoria Samson moderated a panel at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)’s Space Sustainability Workshop, held in Springfield, VA. Her panel, “Hybrid Approach to Space Situational Awareness,” discussed how government and industry can work together to enhance SSA for all. Speakers included Stewart Bain (NorthStar Earth and Space), Travis Langster (Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Department of Defense,) and Sandra Magnus, (Office of Space Commerce, Department of Commerce).
February 11 - 12 | Dr. Peter Martinez will speak at the Space Debris Conference hosted by the Saudi Space Agency in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
February 27 - 28 | Victoria Samson will discuss space security issues at the 10th Annual STM Conference at UT Austin
February 19 - March 1 | Victoria Samson will attend the upcoming intercessional meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) in NYC
February 27 - 29 | Christopher Johnson will serve on a panel at the inaugural Space Beach Law Lab in Long Beach, California
March 25 - 27 | Ian Christensen will speak at the upcoming Space Resources Week in Luxembourg
In 2019, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) adopted a set of 21 guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, the so-called “LTS Guidelines.”
This paper describes the content of the LTS Guidelines and presents some of the early guideline implementation efforts reported by States in COPUOS.
The paper then discusses the role of industry, civil society, and academia in the implementation of the guidelines and concludes with some observations on the next phase of the LTS discussions in UN COPUOS.
