Understanding and Mitigating Non-Cooperative Close Approaches in Geosynchronous Orbit
SWF Director of Program Planning Dr. Brian Weeden recently published a new article in the journal Aether on understanding and mitigating non-cooperative rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs) in geosynchronous orbit. The article was co-authored with Ms. Kaitlyn Johnson from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Mr. Thomas Roberts from MIT and stems from their work to develop the Satellite Dashboard.
 
The article provides an overview of RPOs and why non-cooperative RPOs with another nation’s satellite could exacerbate geopolitical tensions or lead to unwanted escalation. In order to help policymakers deal with this challenge, the article presents a new taxonomy for categorizing RPOs and evaluates the technical and policy aspects of four specific policy options for dealing with them: improving space situational awareness (SSA), developing patterns of life for GEO space activities, creating keep-out zones, and using guardian satellites.

The Cyber Counterspace Threat: Coming Out of the Shadows
SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson recently published a paper about the use of cyber as a counterspace capability.  This was part of a series published by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) on cybersecurity and outer space.  Ms. Samson’s paper examined the nature of cyber as a counterspace capability, discussed how its unrestrained use could lead to overall instability and argued cybersecurity should become a key part of demonstrating responsible space behavior.

December 12, 2022
SWF Event Discusses the Past, Present, and Future of the Artemis Accords
On Dec. 12, 2022, SWF held a luncheon panel event in Washington, DC, to discuss the Artemis Accords. A multilateral agreement on several principles related to future space exploration activities on the Moon, the Accords were initially signed by representatives from eight countries in October 2020, with thirteen more countries signing on over the following two years.

A video recording of the event is available here.

January 10-11, 2023
SWF Contributes to Dialogue on Responsible Space Behaviors
SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson traveled to Panama City, Panama, to participate in a Wilton Park event, "Responsible space behaviours – Latin American perspectives." These discussions, held Jan. 10-12, 2023, preceded the third meeting of the UN Open Ended Working Group on space threats (Jan. 30 - Feb. 3, 2023). The aim of the conference was to provide government policymakers in Latin America with an opportunity to consider the importance of space systems, the threats to them and discuss ideas to address those threats through internationally agreed rules, norms and principles in preparation for discussion at the OEWG. Ms. Samson gave a presentation on “The Nature of Threats to Space Systems: Counterspace Capabilities," plus led brainstorming sessions for norms for responsible space behavior. View Ms. Samson’s presentation here.

January 11-13, 2023
SWF Contributes to ISRO SSA/STM Workshop In Bengaluru, India
SWF Director of Program Planning Dr. Brian Weeden gave an invited talk at the 2023 Workshop on Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management held by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Jan 11-13, 2023, in Bengaluru India. The event brought together more than 400 participants to discuss the importance of improving SSA and STM to manage risks and threats in space and the role India can play. Dr. Weeden gave an invited talk on “Update on US Efforts on STM” that provided an overview of how the United States was developing and implementing its national policy on STM. A video recording of the opening plenary session of the Workshop can be found here. 

January 20, 2023
SWF Presents "Space Law Fundamentals" at University of Georgia's School of Law
SWF Space Law Advisor Christopher Johnson delivered a presentation on space law fundamentals at the University of Georgia School of Law's Space Law Speaker Series on Friday, Jan. 20th. Click here to download this presentation.

January 20, 2023
SWF Written Submission to Article VI Listening Session-Approaches for Authorization and Supervision
The space domain is currently undergoing rapid changes. An increasing number of countries are building and operating their own satellites for a variety of reasons, including to promote national pride, to foster science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, or to kick-start their own commercial space sector. At the same time, billions of dollars in public and private capital are flowing into dozens of space start-up companies. Some of these start-ups are bringing new innovation and expanding capabilities to existing commercial space sectors, such as communications and remote sensing. Others are trying to build or expand commercial markets in launch services, human spaceflight, and exploration, which historically have been the domain of governments. Still others are venturing into activities such as asteroid mining that have never before been done. Read more here.

January 29, 2023
SWF and the UN Institute for Disarmament Research Soft-Launched a Space Security Portal
The Space Security Portal is an interactive map of the global outer space policy landscape. It provides profiles of the space security related policies of all 193 UN Member States, in addition to various intergovernmental organizations and multistakeholder initiatives. This confidence building tool seeks to support informed participation by relevant stakeholders in all policy processes and promote trust, transparency, and cooperation in outer space. View the portal here.

January 31, 2023
SWF Participates in NOSA-ESPI Space Policy Symposium in Oslo, Norway
SWF Director of Program Planning Dr. Brian Weeden participated in the Space Policy Symposium on "Future(s) of European Space Cooperation," which was held in Oslo, Norway, on January 31, 2023. The event was organized by the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) and brought together space policy experts from Europe and the United Stated to discuss current space policy issues, security challenges, and prospects for future cooperation.