Brian Weeden discusses security and legal challenges with close approaches in space at the 2022 UN-L Space Law Conference

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

SWF Director of Program Planning Dr. Brian Weeden participated in a panel discussion on "Unfriendly Rendezvous and Proximity Operations: How close is too close?" at the 15th Annual Space Law Conference organized by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Space law program in Washington, DC.

Dr. Weeden provided an overview of what close approaches are in space, why they are of concern, and discussed the pros and cons of policy proposals put forward to address them, including improving space situational awareness, developing patterns of life or norms, establishing keep out or warning zones, and guardian satellites. He was joined on the panel by three U.S. military lawyers who provided additional context from a legal standpoint, drawing from their work on the forthcoming Woomera Manual.