Opportunities and Challenges for International Cooperation in the Implementation of the LTS Guidelines

Secure World Foundation hosted a panel discussion for delegates attending the 57th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of UN COPUOS in Vienna on the opportunities and challenges for international cooperation in LTS Guideline implementation. With the adoption of the 21 LTS Guidelines by COPUOS at its 62nd session in June 2019, the focus has shifted from guideline development to guideline implementation. Successful LTS guideline implementation will both rely on and strengthen international cooperation in space activities.

The panel comprised a mixture of speakers from government, space agencies and the private sector, who shared their experiences in the authorization, supervision and conduct of space activities. Drawing from some recent “teachable moments” in space activities, the group considered some of the challenges and opportunities for international cooperation in the effective implementation of the already agreed LTS Guidelines, as well as ways to support the discussions of the new LTS Working Group at the 57th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS.

• Val Sim, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, New Zealand
• Amber Charlesworth, Department of State, United States of America
• Holger Krag, European Space Agency
• Daniel Oltrogge, Space Safety Coalition
• Patricia Cooper, SpaceX

Moderator: Dr. Peter Martinez, Executive Director, Secure World Foundation