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SWF June 2019 Newsletter
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Upcoming Events
Jun 7, 2019
Indo-Pacific Space Cooperation

Jun 9-Jun 11, 2019
5th PSSI Space Security Conference, “Evolution of the Counterspace Threat and Strengthening of International Space Partnerships”

Jun 25-Jun 26, 2019
Summit for Space Sustainability

Upcoming Engagements
Jun 4-Jun 6, 2019
Tiffany Chow will attend the Social Innovation Summit in Los Angeles, CA.

Jun 6, 2019
Victoria Samson will participate in a panel discussion on "Capitalizing on the commercial space renaissance" at the 18th Annual C4ISRNET Conference in Arlington, Virginia

Jun 7-Jun 8, 2019
Brian Weeden and Ian Christensen will participate in a CONFERS workshop on satellite servicing standards in London, UK

Jun 10, 2019
Ian Christensen will participate, as a member, in a meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Space Sustainability Rating

Jun 12-Jun 14,2019
Chris Johnson will attend and present at the Geopolitics and Global Futures Symposium in Geneva, Switzerland

Jun 12-Jun 21, 2019
Peter Martinez will represent SWF at the upcoming 62nd Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna, Austria

Jul 9, 2019
Ian Christensen will speak at the 2019 Spacetide Conference in Tokyo, Japan

Jul 10-Jul 24, 2019
Chris Johnson will serve as a lecturer at the 2019 ISU Space Studies Program in Strasbourg, France

Aug 5-Aug 8, 2019
Ian Christensen will speak at the  2019 SmallSat Conference in Logan, UT. Krystal Wilson will also participate

Secure World Foundation Newsletter

June 2019

Insight - African Perspectives on the Space Resources Dialogue

By Executive Director, Peter Martinez, and Director of Private Sector Programs , Ian Christensen

On May 23-24, 2019, a group of space agency, space industry, and academic experts from across the continent of Africa, as well as from the United States, Luxembourg, and Japan gathered in Pretoria, South Africa, to discuss  space resources in the context of African space activities and policy. This first-of-its-kind discussion on space mineral resources was timely as many African countries are in the process of developing national space policies and the continent as a whole is developing a regional space program.

Since 2015, the topic of private sector access to, development, and utilization of space resources has attracted considerable attention in national and multilateral space policy fora. Beginning in 2016, SWF has been a member of the Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group (Hague Working Group), a multi-stakeholder civil society dialogue working to develop Building Blocks for a common legal framework to enable space resources development in a manner consistent with the established treaty regime governing space activities at the international level. Our involvement is driven not only by the near-term legal and policy questions of space resources utilization, but also in recognition of the long-term potential of space resources as a key enabler of an expanding space economy and the need to provide a stable and responsible legal regime to enable such an economy.

The Outer Space Treaty states that the “exploration and use of Outer Space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific benefit.” As initial business plans and national policy initiatives focused on space resources were announced, discussions of the potential for trillions of dollars of space-based platinum resources or control of access to potential lunar resource sites were tempered by the reality that space resources activities will be initially executed by a relatively small number of established spacefaring nations. This led to a perception that the benefits of space resources utilization will be inequitable. Accordingly, in many of the multilateral policy discussions surrounding development of space resources, the question of socioeconomic benefits has emerged as a key theme. Industry and governments have a duty to work together to articulate how space resources will provide socioeconomic benefits and to develop policy and legal regimes to help realize those benefits. Indeed, the Hague Working Group has spent a considerable amount of effort discussing benefits and focuses one of its Building Blocks on the topic.

The Hague Working Group process has been a productive dialogue, not only in the sense of producing the Building Blocks, but also in the sense of allowing a wide range of stakeholders to begin to develop shared understandings of certain issues and terminology. However, processes like the Hague Group, and other similar non-governmental dialogues on space resources, are, to a large extent, a dialogue among well-informed participants whose views coming into the discussions are already aligned in certain respects. So, it is not surprising that such groups can reach consensus views on a number of questions. The fragility of the outputs of these non-governmental space resources dialogues manifests itself when their outcomes are referred to multilateral fora, such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), where the majority of the member States may not have the capacity or informed positions necessary to engage purposefully in policy and regulatory dialogues on space resource utilization topics, and where geopolitics also comes into play. This can lead to a reluctance on the part of States to hold discussions on topics that they are not yet ready to discuss beyond some general principles and definitions. This lack of appetite to hold such discussions in COPUOS manifested recently with the lukewarm response by the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS at its 58th session in April 2019 to a proposal by Belgium and Greece to establish a Working Group on Legal Aspects of the Exploration, the Utilization and the Exploitation of Space Resources within that Subcommittee during 2020 - 2022. The Subcommittee agreed instead to again hold a general exchange of views on potential legal models for activities in the exploration, exploitation and utilization of space resources as a single item for discussion in 2020.

One way to broaden the space resource utilization dialogue is to build awareness and capacity among space professionals and government officials in developing countries. To this end, SWF partnered with the South African National Space Agency to organize a Workshop on SocioEconomic Benefits of Space Resources Utilization - African Perspectives. The workshop, which took place in Pretoria, South Africa, May 24-25, 2019, brought together diplomats from several African countries and experts from terrestrial mining, space agencies, space industry, and academia to discuss questions of space resources benefits in the developing/emerging space nation context.

A number of key themes emerged from these discussions that may help broaden the space resource utilization debate. The African participants in the workshop emphasized that while informal processes such as the Hague Working Group are fruitful exercises to explore ideas, when it comes to developing legal and regulatory principles for space resource utilization, the discussions should be carried out in a formal multilateral forum such as the United Nations. However, they also acknowledged that, before being able to engage in such discussions, a number of African countries would have to build capacity and develop national positions on a number of space resource utilization issues. Such capacity building should encompass both technical and policy aspects, and efforts should be undertaken to socialize space resource utilization topics to policymakers and the public through education and grassroots outreach activities. It was also noted that emerging spacefaring countries need to determine proactively the contributions that they might make to space resources activities, rather than solely focusing on attempting to stop or delay activities in the established spacefaring countries.

A number of delegates from the international space industry pointed to the expertise of private companies in extractive industries in many African countries and suggested this as a possible contribution that Africa might be able to make to international industry-led space resource utilization efforts. It was suggested that conducting an inventory of existing African expertise and capabilities in topics related to space resource utilization might be the first step in identifying what African academic and industrial actors could place on the table in future space resource utilization discussions.

It was also emphasized that the space industry is lacking the skills and operational experience accumulated by terrestrial extractive industries, and that experts from those industries could suggest technological solutions for space resource utilization activities at a fairly low space technology readiness level, and that space companies could then develop these technological solutions further to space-qualify them.

The development of space resources is set to become a prominent space governance issue in the coming years. As more commercial actors become interested in pursuing space resource-related activities, pressure will mount on governments to provide the regulatory certainty these actors need in order to attract investment. Already, the United States and Luxembourg have enacted legislation that is designed to provide regulatory certainty to space resources companies wishing to start preliminary test campaigns on the Moon and nearby asteroids. SWF believes that the time is ripe to facilitate dialogue among States and non-State actors on a future space resources governance regime. As such, SWF will continue to organize regional dialogues, such as the one held in Africa, on space resource governance issues. We are open to working with international partners in government, space agencies, industry and academia to organize these dialogues. Such discussions aim to allow all States, regardless of their level of development, to engage purposefully in space resources debates in multilateral fora.

Announcements

Keynote Speakers for Summit for Space Sustainability Announced 
SWF is pleased to announce that Kevin O'Connell, Director of the Office of Space Commerce at the Department of Commerce will deliver the first keynote address at the 2019 Summit for Space Sustainability on June 25th. Iridium's CEO, Matt Desch, and CEO of Virgin Orbit, Dan Hart, will participate in a keynote interview on June 26th. For more information and the latest speaker details, please click here to view the full summit agenda. 

SWF Scholarships for IAC 2019 are Available to Young Professionals
The Secure World Foundation is now accepting applications from young professionals for scholarships to aid in traveling to present papers at this year's International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Washington, DC, USA. The goal of these scholarships is to provide young space professionals an opportunity to participate in one of the most prestigious international space conferences to further their professional development and inject new ideas into the community. Please note that the deadline to apply is 11:59 PM (EDT) Sunday, June 9, 2019. 

SWF Sponsors the 2019 Loftus Space Sustainability Award at the 10th IAASS Space Safety Conference
Executive Director Peter Martinez attended the 10th International Association for Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) Space Safety Conference May 10, 2019 in El Segundo, California.  Dr. Martinez delivered a keynote address and participated in a panel on space sustainability. On behalf of SWF, Dr. Martinez presented the 2019 Loftus Space Sustainability Award to Ms. Diana Kissock and the 18th Space Control Squadron of the U.S. Air Force. 

Events

May 6, 2019
SWF Hosts Panel Discussion on India's Anti-Satellite Test
SWF hosted a panel discussion, "India's Anti-Satellite Test: A Jolt to Space Stability," in Washington, DC.  At this event, Bob Hall, director of operations for AGI’s Commercial Space Operations Center (ComSpOC), gave a fascinating presentation demonstrating their modeling and simulation of debris creation by the Indian anti-satellite test while Ankit Panda of the Federation of American Scientists presented the argument that this test was done not to demonstrate India’s space capabilities but rather to validate its hit-to-kill exoatmospheric missile defense interceptor. SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson discussed India’s lack of national space policy, gave an update on India's SSA capabilities and used statements by Prime Minister Modi and India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to highlight national priorities demonstrated by this test. For more information, including video of the event and news coverage, please visit the event page.

May 15–May 17, 2019
SWF Participates in Discussions on the 2019 Space Security Index Working Group
Director of Program Planning, Brian Weeden, and Space Law Advisor Christopher Johnson participated in the 2019 Space Security Index Working Group, held in Montreal, Canada at McGill University. The Working Group is an annual meeting of international experts and student researchers to discuss and review the draft research for the Space Security Index (SSI), which compiles annual events across seventeen different indicators of space security to facilitate dialogue on space security challenges and potential responses. Dr. Weeden will also be contributing the Global Assessment for this year's report.

May 23–May 24, 2019
Workshop Discusses African Perspectives on Space Resources Uitiliation
SWF partnered with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) to organize a Workshop on SocioEconomic Benefits of SpaceResources Utilization - African Perspectives.  The workshop, which took place in Pretoria, South Africa, brought together diplomats and space agency representatives from several African countries (including Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the African Union) and experts from the terrestrial mining, space agency, space industry and academia to discuss questions of space resources benefits in the developing/emerging space nation context.  A more detailed summary of the outcomes of this workshop is included in this month's Insight article.

May 28–May 29, 2019
SWF Sponsors 2019 UNIDIR Space Security Conference
The United Nation's Institute for Disarmament Research's (UNIDIR) Space Security Conference series has proved to be an invaluable forum for dialogue on issues affecting space security and stability and an effective vehicle for sharing international space and security policy perspectives. The 2019 conference, entitled "Supporting Diplomacy: Clearing the Path for Dialogue," was organized by UNIDIR in collaboration with the Secure World Foundation, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (with funding from the European Union)and The Simons Foundation Canada, plus it was organized with the support of the governments of Brazil, the Holy See, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation. SWF Executive Director Peter Martinez spoke about next steps for multilateral dialogue, while SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson contributed to a panel examining proximity operations and how to prevent this technology from disrupting space security. For more information, please visit our event page here.

Staff Activities and Presentations

May 6, 2019
SWF presents Benefit on Earth: Space Applications Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals at SGx
SWF Director of Space Applications Programs Krystal Wilson gave a flash talk at SGx, organized by the Space Generation Advisory Council and the Future Space Leaders Foundation, entitled “Benefit on Earth: Space Applications Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.” Ms. Wilson discussed how the variety of ways that the space community can contribute to global efforts to improve life on Earth. Her presentation can be found here

May 6–May 9, 2019
SWF Participates in the 12th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites
Executive Director, Peter Martinez, attended the 12th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites, held in Berlin, Germany. Dr Martinez delivered a presentation on the implications of the UN COPUOS space sustainability guidelines for the developers and operators of small satellites. He also delivered a presentation on the SWF Handbook for New Actors in Space to the participants in this workshop.The conference report is available here

May 7, 2019
SWF Featured on SATELLITE2019 Earth Observation Data Panel
Ms. Wilson participated in a panel entitled "Making Earth Observation Data More Accessible and Commercially Actionable" at SATELLITE 2019. In this session, speakers outlined the challenges facing data scientists in working with multiple EO datasets, provide examples of conflicting data structures, and highlight industries that are struggling with using this data. They also highlighted new techniques that are being developed to align and normalize disparate datasets to allow more accessibility and immediate usability.    

May 15, 2019
SWF Participates in McGill University Dialogue on Conflict in Space
Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson served as a panelist on “Conflicts in Space - Preventable or Unavoidable?” at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, contributing his expertise and insights on technical, legal, and policy trends and issues impacting space security. The goal of this event was to inform stakeholders in the space community as well as the general public about the opportunities and pressing challenges in preserving peace in a shared, strategic and increasingly fragile domain.

May 20-May 24, 2019 
SWF Provides Inputs During MILAMOS Workshop VII in Berlin, Germany 
SWF Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson participated at the next meeting of the MILAMOS project, held in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Johnson is a Core Expert and Rule Drafter for various rules on the law applicable to military activities in outer space. This conference, entitled MILAMOS Workshop VII: Rule-Drafting and Consensus-Forming workshop, focused on the laws applicable to peacetime and rising-tension pertaining to military activities in outer space. The MILAMOS project aims to conclude its work in 2019, with the publication of the MILAMOS manual thereafter.

Experts in the Media

May 20, 2019
How Defense and Civil Space Offices Can Work Together on Space Situational Awareness and Space Commerce
Director of Program Planning, Brian Weeden, contributed expertise to an article that appeared in The Space Review

May 24, 2019
Satellite Constellations Could Clutter Earth's Orbit with Dangerous Space Junk, Warn Experts
Dr. Weeden, was quoted in The Telegraph on the hazards of large satellite constellations. 

May 28, 2019
Experts Warn Space Force Rhetoric Risks Backfiring
Washington Office Director, Victoria Samson, was quoted in Breaking Defense on space diplomacy. 

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