SWF Actively Participates in the 58th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS)

Monday, June 22, 2015

SWF's Executive Director, Dr. Michael Simpson, and Project Manager Mr. Christopher Johnson participated in the fifty-eighth session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) from 10-19 June 2015 at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. 

Under discussion at this year's plenary session of COPUOS were the continuing development of the draft guidelines on the long-term sustainability of space activities, as well as regular COPUOS agenda items such as ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes, space and water, space and climate change, space and sustainable development, and the spin-off benefits of space technology. On Thursday, a panel discussion was held on the sidelines of the Committee which focused on the challenges and opportunities for the enhancement of security and stability in outer space activities, which focused on corollary international activities of the ongoing consultations of a draft international code of conduct for outer space activities. 

On behalf of SWF, Dr. Simpson delivered a statement to COPUOS where he summarized SWF's activities over the past calendar year, including our workshops and our development of a handbook for new actors in the space field. He also directed the Committee's attention to the emerging issue of spectrum management, and the possibility of interference developing between terrestrial broadband services and satellite operations, a topic which COPUOS might consider in the future.  

To read the SWF Statement, click here.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) also houses documentation from the conference athttp://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/2015/index.html