New Publication Summarizes Current State and Possible Future of Multilateral Space Governance

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

In a new publication, Ms. Theresa Hitchens provides a holistic look at the current state and possible future of multilateral governance of space activities.

Ms. Hitchens, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) and former Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), summarizes the three recent international initiatives focused on space security and sustainability: the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on transparency and confidence-building measures for outer space activities, the European Union-led proposed International Code of Conduct for Space Activities, and the Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTS) established by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Drawing upon her extensive experience in international space security, Ms. Hitchens provides an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each initiative, and outlines a series of steps that can be taken by the international community to implement the recommendations of the GGE and improve space security and sustainability.

This publication was supported in part by funding from Secure World Foundation.