Regional Workshop on the Long-Term Sustainability of Space Activities

Sponsored by the Secure World Foundation, in collaboration with the Central American Association for Aeronautics and Space (ACAE), and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, this two-day workshop engaged representatives from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean (GRULAC) countries who are members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).

In the context of the UNCOPUOS long-term sustainability (LTS) guidelines effort and other international initiatives to promote long-term space sustainability, this workshop served as a platform to advance regional space sustainability discussions within Latin America. The invitation-only workshop engaged space policy experts and GRULAC delegates in an active discussion on how best to address concerns that have been raised in advance of the June 2015 COPUOS debate on the guidelines. The program included an in-depth discussion of the LTS effort, other relevant international and regional sustainability activities, and opportunities for progress in this area.

As part of a session entitled “Space in Latin America: Recent Developments,” representatives offered prepared statements or presentations on basic goals and key space developments in their countries. The presentations given during this session, as well as others offered throughout the workshop, were on the record and are available below. The discussion portions of the workshop were not for attribution. Major themes and other highlights of the event are captured in the summary report available below.