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Secure World Foundation Newsletter
April 2022
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Insight - Ukraine Highlights The Threat of Counterspace Capabilities In Future Conflicts
by Washington Office Director Victoria Samson and Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden
Space and counterspace capabilities are increasingly important aspects of military operations, as highlighted in the current armed conflict in Ukraine. Recent news stories have indicated the use of government and commercial space-based remote sensing and satellite communications by Ukraine, and also reports of cyber and electronic warfare attacks against some of those same systems along with global navigation satellite services in Ukraine. Thankfully, we still have yet to see use of destructive anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons in an armed conflict.
The use of counterspace capabilities as seen in the Ukraine conflict is an unfortunate example of one of the potential scenarios that prompted SWF to publish the first edition of our Global Counterspace Capabilities report back in 2018. Over the last four years, we’ve discussed the growing number of countries voicing concerns about their reliance on vulnerable space capabilities for national security and the corresponding proliferation of offensive counterspace capabilities that could be used to disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy space systems. We’ve also tracked the growing number of countries that have made significant policy, budgetary, or organizational changes to prepare for future conflicts on Earth to extend into space, and the growing concerns about what impact that might have on the long-term sustainability of space.
Read More here
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Announcements
Now Accepting Applications for IAC Travel Scholarship
Secure World Foundation is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications from young professionals for scholarships to aid in traveling to present papers at the 2022 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), September 18-22, in Paris, France.
The goal of these scholarships is to provide young space professionals an opportunity to participate in one of the most prestigious international space conferences, further their professional development, and inject new ideas into the community. Please click here to apply.
Summit for Space Sustainability Agenda is Now Available
The agenda of the 4th Summit for Space Sustainability is now available on the Summit website. The Summit, co-hosted by SWF and the UK Space Agency, will be held on June 22-23 at the Science Museum in London, England. With the theme “Global Priorities for Space Sustainability” this year, the Summit will be a unique gathering of global stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society. It will feature keynotes, interactive sessions, panels and networking designed to highlight opportunities and challenges for developing solutions for space sustainability. Please go to www.swfsummit.org for more information and to register.
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Publications
SWF Releases 2022 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report
Edited by Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden and Washington Office Director Victoria Samson, this annual report compiles and assesses publicly available information on the counterspace capabilities being developed by multiple countries across five categories: direct-ascent, co-orbital, electronic warfare, directed energy, and cyber. It assesses the current and near-term future capabilities for each country, along with their potential military utility. The full 2022 report and the Executive Summary, along with previous year's editions, can be found here.
Russian, Chinese, Spanish, and French translations of the executive summary are forthcoming.
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Events
March 25, 2022
SWF Sponsors 2022 Lachs Moot Court Competition
SWF was pleased to again sponsor the 2022 North America rounds of the Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition. Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson served as a judge. The five Regional winners participate in the world finals, which involve preliminary rounds and a final round between the top two Regional winners before three judges from the International Court of Justice.
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Staff Activities and Presentations
March 3, 2022
The Strategic Stability Risks of Offensive Counterspace Capabilities and How to Mitigate Them
Ms. Samson presented at a workshop hosted by the Arms Control Association, "The Strategic Stability Risks of Offensive Counterspace Capabilities and How to Mitigate Them." She spoke about the current state of counterspace capabilities and R&D globally, the evolution of how multilateral organizations are approaching space security and stability negotiations, and possibilities for successful outcomes in international discussions.
March 8, 2022
Victoria Samson Participates in International Women's Day Event Hosted by Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Ms. Samson participated in the Bulletin virtual program “Women in Space: Propelling International Women’s Day into a New Dimension” with Timiebi Aganaba, Kaitlyn Johnson, and in conversation with Loren Grush. These experts discussed the privatization of space, the weaponization of space amid the Ukraine crisis, the future of space governance, and more. The program also featured two contributors from the Bulletin’s January/February magazine issue on “Conflicts in Space.” Watch a recording of the program here to learn more.
March 21, 2022
What Does Crowded Mean in Space?
Dr. Weeden moderated a panel discussion at the 2022 Satellite conference in Washington, DC, that discussed whether or not we should be concerned about congestion in low Earth orbit. Panelists discussed the various ways to measure congestion, the impact it has on current and future space activities, and various proposals for how to mitigate the effects of congestion, including new debris mitigation guidelines and stronger oversight of space activities.
March 29-31, 2022
SWF Staff Contribute to the 61st Session of UNCOPUOS Legal Subcomitte
The 61st Session of the Legal Subcommittee (LSC) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) is currently meeting a hybrid format March 29 to April 8, 2022. SWF participated in the meeting in its observer role, and delivered three statements during the Subcomittee's meeting.
SWF Director of Private Sector Programs Ian Christensen attended the first week of the session in person in Vienna. Mr Christensen delivered a live statement on March 29th under the agenda item on General Exchange of Views on Potential Legal Models for Activities in the Exploration, Exploitation and Utilization of Space Resources, offering SWF's views on the newly established LSC Working Group on Space Resources. SWF Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson delivered two pre-recorded statements: the first on March 29th under the agenda item on the Status and Application of the Five UN Treaties and the second on March 30th under the agenda item on Information on the Activities of International Intergovernmental and Non-governmental Organizations Relating to Space Law, giving an update on SWF activities since the last meeting of LSC.
Additional information about the session as well as formal documents can be found at the website of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
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Click here for the latest SWF media appearances. This month, SWF staff were featured in the Washington Post, CBC News, POLITICO, The New York Times and more!
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10 Years of the Wolf Amendment: Assessing Effects and Outcomes
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