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SWF December 2020 Newsletter
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Feb 16-21, 2020
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Secure World Foundation Newsletter

December 2020

Insight - Review of 2020 and a Preview of 2021

by Executive Director Peter Martinez 

Last December, in this column, we published a preview of our planned activities in 2020 across our various program areas. As 2020 draws to a close, it is instructive to review how the year has played out, and what we plan to do in 2021.

The year started off well, with a number of in-person events around the world, but by March it was clear that we would have to adapt to the social distancing measures required to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with our partners around the world, already planned in-person events were postponed or transitioned to virtual platforms. All told, since initiating telework for all staff in March, SWF has organized or co-hosted 41 virtual events on a range of topics across all of its mission areas. These dialogues and events covered topics such as space security, responsible space operations, space resources governance and other emerging space governance issues, and human and environmental security.

Read more here

Announcements

Nov 30, 2020
SWF Staff Elected to GEO Programme Board 
At the 2020 Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Virtual Plenary, the GEO Secretariat completed the annual nomination and election of delegates to the Programme Board. GEO’s mission is to connect the demand for sound and timely environmental information with the supply of data and information about the Earth. The Program Board comprises individuals nominated by GEO Members and Participating Organizations to oversee the establishment of the multi-year GEO Work Programmes while working to align proposed activities with GEO priorities and committed resources.

SWF Director of Space Applications Programs Krystal Azelton was re-elected to the Program Board for the 2021-2023 period for her second three-year term.

Dec 2, 2020
SWF Provides Space Policy and Sustainability Recommendations for the Incoming Biden Administration
SWF released an issue briefing to provide background and recommendations on key space policy and sustainability issues to help the U.S. meet current and emerging challenges in outer space. The briefing was developed by the entire SWF staff and contains recommendations on issues ranging from fostering a vibrant commercial space sector to dealing with threats from counterspace capabilities. SWF held a public panel discussion on the issue brief and the recommendations it contains on December 8th, 2020. 

Dec 10, 2020
SWF Signs Cooperative Agreement with International Institute of Space Law (IISL)
SWF supported the IISL once again in the organization of the annual Galloway Symposium (held virtually on December 16). Notably, we will also support the publication of a new IISL book published in honour of the Symposium, on 60 years of space law. The publication will be released early in 2021.  

Dec 14, 2020
SWF Awarded the SpaceNews Space Stewardship Award
The SpaceNews Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the global space industry. Awards are given to organizations, programs and people with demonstrable achievements in the space arena during the preceding 12 months. This year, SWF received the award for playing an outsized role in the global dialogue on space stewardship, offering information and insight on sustainability, law, policy and security.

Publications
 

Nov 27, 2020
Director of Program Planning Dr. Brian Weeden has authored a new report on "Current and Future Trends in Chinese Counterspace Capabilities'' for the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI). The report builds on the research compiled in the SWF Global Counterspace Capabilities Report to explore multiple areas of Chinese counterspace capability developments, from co-orbital rendezvous operations to direct ascent anti-satellite interceptors and electronic and cyber warfare. It summarizes what is known about current programs,offers estimates regarding the unique characteristics of each capability area and how advanced Chinese capabilities are in each field. 
 
Dec 1, 2020
Why the United States Should Begin Working Towards Space Arms Control
Washington Office Director Victoria Samson and Dr. Weeden published a new article in the December edition of Arms Control Today arguing that it is time for the United States to return to its historical leadership role in arms control. They propose additional legally binding measures to enhance the security and stability of space, including space arms control, as part of a more holistic approach that includes voluntary measures as well.
 

Dec 4, 2020
Building Back Better: Critical First Issues for a Successful Biden Space Policy
Secure World Foundation recently released Space Policy and Sustainability: Issue Briefing for the Incoming U.S. Administration, a report that provides an overview of current space policies and a set of recommendations for the Biden administration to achieve space sustainability. This article by SWF staff for SpaceNews was a preview of those recommendations, with an emphasis on the most urgent considerations for the transition team.

Events

Nov 10, 2020
Seeing Space Security: The Role of SSA for Verification of Future Space Arms Control
This two-hour discussion hosted by SWF and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) examined the potential for using SSA to verify future space arms control agreements. It brought together experts from commercial, academic, and intergovernmental organizations to discuss current and emerging SSA capabilities as well as their limitations and lessons learned from other domains with existing verification regimes. Ms. Samson moderated one of the panel discussions.  

Nov 17-19, 2020
SWF Co-sponsors the National Space Weather Partnership's 2020 Space Weather Enterprise Forum
The Space Weather Enterprise Forum brings together the space weather community to share information and raise awareness of space weather and its effects on society. This year's virtual event focused on continuity of critical space weather observations, transitioning research results into operations, and the application of space weather information to activities in space.

Dec 1, 2020
SWF Co-Sponsors SGAC SpaceGen Summit
Held on November 5-8, the SpaceGen Summit (SGS) was the 2020 online edition of Space Generation Fusion Forum. This year’s event included breakout sessions, lightning talks, keynotes podcasts, and other online gatherings. SWF was proud to support this ambitious event, which was held completely virtually with over 80 young professionals and students from 15 countries across the world to discuss key topics in the industry. For more information, please visit the SGS 2020 website.  

Dec 1-3, 2020
SWF Discuss Law, Policy and Economics of Orbital Debris at the 2020 CODER Workshop
SWF co-sponsored the Fall 2020 CODER Virtual Workshop in partnership with the University of Maryland (UMD) Center for Orbital Debris Education and Research (CODER), George Washington University's Space Policy Institute (SPI), and the Space Economy Evolution (SEE) Lab at the SDA Bocconi School of Management. The 3-day event brought together experts from around the world to talk about the technical, law, policy, and economics aspects of orbital debris, SSA, and space traffic management (STM).

Dec 8, 2020
Space Policy and Sustainability Issue Briefing for the Incoming Biden Administration
Following on SWF’s recent publication: Space Policy and Sustainability: Issue Briefing for the Incoming U.S. Administration, this release event featured Jacqueline Feldscher, national security and space reporter at Politico, interviewing several of the briefing’s contributors - Brian Weeden, Victoria Samson, and Director of Private Sector Programs Ian Christensen - on SWF’s recommendations and current thoughts on where the Biden administration might be headed on these issues.

Dec 8, 2020
Reducing Space Threats: A Resolution
SWF co-hosted this discussion with the Space Court Foundation on a resolution by the United Kingdom at the UN General Assembly to seek new norms that reduce threats to stability in space. H.E. Aidan Liddle, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, spoke about the successful resolution and next steps, while a panel of experts (including Washington Office Director Victoria Samson and SWF Advisory Committee member Raji Rajagopalan) had a discussion about it, moderated by Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Daniel Porras. 

Dec 16, 2020
15th Annual Eileen M. Galloway Memorial Symposium
SWF co-sponsored of this year’s Galloway Symposium, explored how space agencies and commercial enterprises are adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Guoyu Wang, a member of the SWF Advisory Committee, spoke on the first panel.

Staff Activities and Presentations 

Nov 5, 2020
“How on earth can we trust each other? Confidence and Security Building in new domains”
Ms. Samson spoke on a panel discussion hosted by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This event brought together a roundtable group of experts representing different sectors and different domains to discuss how emerging technologies are challenging (or changing) the concept of trust, as well as the tools available to build it and maintain it (e.g. role of norms of behavior). 

Nov 13, 2020
“Improving space safety: the multi-actor option”
Ms. Samson moderated a panel at the Paris Peace Forum examining different options to enhance space safety, including bringing in commercial perspectives and deepening the discussion on what is responsible behavior in space.

Nov 17, 2020
SWF Staff Participate in ASCEND Conference 
Ms. Azelton spoke on two panels at AIAA's ASCEND conference on November 17. The first, entitled "Space-Enabled Solutions Towards Addressing Global Climate Change," looked at examples of space-enabled technologies and space-based research towards monitoring, tracking, and mitigating the effects of climate change, with special focus on the role of the ISS. The second, entitled "Sustainability on Planet Earth and in Outer Space," explored the concept of sustainability and argued that the Aerospace community is uniquely capable of creating an integrated definition of the concept.

Dr. Weeden also participated in a third panel at ASCEND on the Emergence of the US Space Force. The panel discussed the current changes in the space environment and threats, the rationale for creating the US Space Force, and how it should address current and emerging space security challenges. 

Nov 17, 2020
SWF Staff Speak at GEOINT Community Forum
Ms. Azelton spoke at the GEOINT Community Forum on November, discussing her experience with young professionals and how they have improved their community through engagement, business operations, and geospatial science. The panelists represented multiple points-of-view stemming from diverse backgrounds, including local government, federal government, and private industry.   

Nov 23, 2020
Issues and Decisions Driving National Security Space Policies
Dr. Weeden gave a lecture on national security space policies as part of the 2020 Strategic Space Law Course organized by McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Weeden's lecture used a case study approach to discuss the issues and decisions that drive national security space policies on issues ranging from reconnaissance satellites to defending satellites and use of satellite navigation technologies.

Nov 27, 2020
SWF Participates in International Academy of Astronautics Virtual Event
Dr. Martinez delivered a recorded presentation at the Academy Day of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) in Beijing on the recommendations contained in the recently published “IAA Handbook for Post-mission Disposal of Satellites Under 100kg.”

Dec 2, 2020
SWF Staff Speaks on Commercial Space Resources Activities 
Mr. Christensen spoke on a panel addressing "Resources Beyond Earth: Enabling Future Exploration and the New Space Economy" as part of the 2020 Colorado Space Business Roundup organized by the Colorado School of Mines.

Dec 3, 2020
Pursuing Urgent Consensus on Space Situational Awareness and Debris Mitigation
Ms. Samson moderated a panel for SpaceTechExpo Europe on international approaches to improving SSA and what steps may be/are being taken to mitigate space debris. The panelists discussed the continuous need for international legislation, standards, norms and procedures; the growing implications of space debris on satellite missions and launch; and updates on technology developments in this realm.

Dec 3, 2020
SWF Participates in Republic of Korea - United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Dr. Martinez participated in a panel discussion on emerging security threats in various domains at this important forum for the open and constructive exchange of views on current challenges to international security, disarmament, non‑proliferation and arms‑control issues, both on the global stage and at the regional level. The 2020 Conference focused on the impact and prospects of new technologies on the disarmament and non‑proliferation regime.

Dec 7, 2020
SWF Presents Poster at American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 
SWF Director of Space Applications Programs, Krystal Azelton, together with Minoo Rathnasabapathy and Danielle Wood from Space Enabled Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab contributed to a virtual poster session at the American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting. The poster, titled “Earth Observations in Support of the SDGs: Trends from the Humanitarian and Development Sectors,” reviewed the results of the Serving Society with Space Data webinar series. This project engaged a multi-sector audience in discussions on how space technologies and geospatial applications contribute to better outcomes in critical fields around the world, such as energy, food security, poverty, and governance.

Dec 8, 2020
SWF Participates in Panel Discussion on Status and Future of the Space Force
In a recently published Cato Institute policy analysis, Robert Farley argues that the Space Force lacks both a clearly defined organizational culture and a clear strategic purpose, which will hamstring the newly created service. Dr. Weeden participated in a virtual policy forum with the report’s author and other leading space policy experts to discuss the report and debate its findings.

Dec 8-10, 2020
SWF Participates in UN Space Law and Policy Capacity-Building Efforts 
Dr. Martinez gave a presentation on the “UN COPUOS Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities“ at the United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy entitled Emerging Issues in Space Law and Policy - Perspectives for African Nations. This Conference was held in order to promote adherence to the five United Nations treaties on outer space and to assist States in building their capacity in space law, and thus help them to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Conference was preceded by a half-day Introductory Technical Advisory Mission (TAM) of Space Law for New Space Actors project to support the development of national space legislation for new space actors in the African region. 

Dec 9, 2020
SWF Discusses Space Congestion as a National Security Threat at Military Satcom Digital Week
Dr. Weeden participated in a panel discussion as part of the Military SATCOM Digital Week to discuss why space congestion and orbital debris was a national security threat. Dr. Weeden and the other panelists explained why the growing congestion in space was a growing threat to all satellites, including national security, and discussed what steps the U.S. Department of Defense could take to mitigate it. 

Dec 9-10, 2020
United Nations World Space Forum
Dr. Martinez spoke on the forces shaping the future of space exploration at the World Space Forum: Space for our Future. This event was jointly organized by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency. It focused on how space agencies are working to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Dec 9-10, 2020 
SWF Staff Makes 'Critical Connections' at TMT Conference
On December 9, Ms. Azelton spoke at the conference Critical Connections: Greening the Technology, Media and Telecom (TMT) Sector. Along with Matt Desch from Iridium, Luc Piguet from Clearspace, and Chris Blackerby from Astroscale, she spoke about the relationship between satellites and telecommunication companies and the potential risks to the space environment posed by orbital debris and other issues. Panelists also discussed potential solutions to this challenge. 

Dec 10, 2020
Security at the Frontier: UK-Japan Perspectives on Cyberspace, Outer Space, the Arctic and Electronic Warfare
Mr. Porras, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications joined a panel organized by Chatham House (London) to discuss the latest developments in cyberspace, outer space, electronic warfare and the Arctic. This panel considered how best the UK and Japan might respond to space-security challenges from both an international law and security perspective.

Dec 10, 2020
Space, Security, Stability, and Sustainability: Emerging Policy Challenges
Ms. Samson spoke for the Space Policy and Research Center at the University of Washington about emerging space security and stability challenges, as well as policy gaps and overlaps. This was part of the university’s Space Dialogues series.

Experts in the Media


Nov 2, 2020
How Do We Prevent War in Space?
Dr. Weeden was quoted by Scientific American on preventing war in space. 

Nov 2, 2020
Here’s How NASA under President Trump 
Dr. Weeden was quoted by CNN on NASA’s international engagement  on the Artemis Accords

Nov 3, 2020
The rise of military space powers
Ms. Samson comments on international cooperation in a post-ISS world in Axios Space Newsletter

Nov 3, 2020
NASA objects to new mega-constellation, citing risk of “catastrophic collision” 
Dr. Weeden was quoted by Arstechnica on debris mitigation requirements for large constellations

Nov 12, 2020
What is the Woomera Manual and how might it help stop a war in space? 
Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson was quoted by ABC Radio National on Woomera, MILAMOS Manuals

Nov 23, 2020
China Launches Lunar Sample Return Mission - SpacePolicyOnline.com 
Ms. Samson was quoted by SpacePolicyOnline.com on collaboration opportunities presented by the Artemis Accords

Dec 2, 2020
Space policy advice for Biden: Tone down war rhetoric, fix military acquisitions 
Ms. Azelton and Ms. Samson were quoted in SpaceNews on SWF Policy Briefing

Dec 4, 2020
Industry privately urges Biden team to retain National Space Council
In a POLITICO Space Newsletter article regarding private space industry recommendations for the Biden Administration, the SWF Briefing for Biden Administration was cited

Dec 9, 2020
White House Unveils New Space Policy, But Does It Matter?  
Dr. Weeden was quoted by BreakingDefense on how the new U.S. National Space Policy is largely consistent with previous versions

Dec 9, 2020
Trump victory lap at space meeting draws criticism 
Dr. Weeden was quoted by the Washington Post on space policy transition from Trump to Biden

 

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