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Secure World Foundation Newsletter - September/October

Announcements

September 23, 2013

SWF Offers Congratulations to Richard DalBello

SWF congratulates Richard DalBello on his appointment to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as the Assistant Director, Aeronautics and Space. Richard has a long history of government and private sector experience in the space business and has been a valued member of SWF's Advisory Committee for several years. Joining the staff at OSTP necessitated his resignation from our Advisory Committee. We thank him for his guidance and sharing his expertise, and we wish him all the best at OSTP.

 

October 10, 2013

SWF and CRECTEALC Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

After working together for several years on a variety of Latin American initiatives, SWF and the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC), decided to strengthen their intention to work together on a variety of projects by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The 64th International Astronautical Congress in Beijing, China provided an ideal venue for signing the MOU. SWF Executive Director Michael Simpson signed for SWF and Secretary General Dr. Sergio Camacho for CRECTEALC. Possible activities noted in the MOU include: collaboration on workshops, seminars or conferences on the development of space policy; and on a range of topics of interest to both organizations. Collaboration may also include the development of mini-courses on space law and policy.

 

October 23, 2013

SWF Seeking Full-Time Project Manager

SWF is seeking a full-time project manager to join our DC office team to assist with and manage the overall planning, administration, and coordination of project activities and goals. SWF is seeking applicants with significant international experience, knowledge of DC and international space policy offices, and expertise about major space policy issues (including those related to human and environmental security).

Recent SWF Events

September 5, 2013

SWF Co-Sponsors the European Satellite Day 2013

In an environment where science and technology are constantly evolving, the capacity to anticipate is key, especially for the space sector that drives innovation while dealing with long lead times and development cycles for satellites. European Satellite Day 2013 addressed today's risks and reflected on how state of the art satellite solutions play a part in mitigating them. The event was hosted by ESOA and EUROSPACE in cooperation with the World Economic Forum, EUMETSAT, and ESA, and sponsored by SWF, ASTRIUM, and NEREUS. SWF Executive Director Michael Simpson, Brussels Office Director Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, and Project Manager Natassa Antoniou attended the event.

 

September 12, 2013

SWF Co-Hosts Inaugural AMOS Dialogue at Maui AMOS Conference

SWF played an active role in the 2013 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) conference, held on the island of Maui from September 10-13, 2013. The conference began with a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Policy Forum that featured panel discussions on several aspects of SSA policy. The second and third panel discussions focused on international SSA activities and policies, with representation by panelists from Australia, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The fourth and final panel discussion was moderated by SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden and featured perspectives on commercial, civil, and R&D contributions to SSA.

On Thursday, September 12, 2013, SWF partnered with the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) to hold the inaugural AMOS Dialogue: a small, invitation-only workshop to foster dialogue among SSA providers and end users. The goal of the AMOS Dialogue was to promote greater collaboration and cooperation toward SSA-enabled safe and responsible space operations. The 2013 AMOS Dialogue involved twenty-two participants from seven countries as well as across commercial, civil, and military sectors.

The discussion included updates from some of the major SSA providers on current capabilities and near-term plans as well as ideas on ways various countries and entities could contribute niche SSA capabilities. This was followed by perspectives from a selection of SSA end-users, including a LEO satellite operator and a GEO satellite operator, and the role of SSA in supporting norms of behavior in space and transparency and confidence building measures (TCBMs).

 

September 19-21, 2013

SWF Staff Actively Contributes to the 2013 Space Generation Congress in Beijing, China

SWF staff played many important roles in the 2013 Space Generation Congress in Beijing, China. SWF Executive Director Michael Simpson kicked off the event as the Society working group Spotlight Speaker. Project Manager Natassa Antoniou helped bring together both the Agency and Society working groups as Project Coordinator and SWF Senior Advisor Ray Williamson served as Subject Matter Expert in the Society working group on Near Earth Objects, Impact in Society. Project Manager Tiffany Chow was a delegate of the Congress while Brussels Office Director Agnieszka Lukaszczyk coordinated SWF efforts for SGC. Working group discussions looked at a variety of topics including Space Industry, Space Communications, Near Earth Objects, Exploitation of Space Resources and Earth Observation for Sustainable Development. Reports will be published soon and presented to the UNCOPUOS as part of SGAC's advisory role. 

 

September 25, 2013

SWF Co-Organizes the IAC Young Professional Programme Event on Space Debris

On Wednesday, September 25, 2013, the IAC Young Professional Programme invited the next generation of aerospace professionals to a reception about Space Debris as part of the 64th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Beijing, China. This event was sponsored by SWF and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Over 100 delegates listened to experts discussing the threats of Space Debris and the challenges to mitigate these and brought their own opinions to the table by asking questions and providing comments.

Publications

September 4, 2013

SWF Releases New Fact Sheet on China's ASAT Tests

During the Cold War, the United States and Russia conducted dozens of ASAT systems tests in space, a handful of which created long-lived orbital debris. Over the last several years, China has conducted a series of tests in space of their own ASAT systems. While at least three of these tests included the destruction of a target, only one, conducted in January 2007, resulted in the creation of long-lived orbital debris.

SWF has released a new fact sheet that collates what is known and what is theorized about China's ASAT testing in space. The fact sheet suggests that China is conducting a multi-year testing program similar to those previously conducted by the United States and Russia to develop at least one, and possibly two, ASAT weapon systems of their own.

The fact sheet can be viewed here. Questions or comments can be directed at the primary author of the fact sheet, SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden.

 

September 17, 2013

Brian Weeden Analyzes Options for U.S. - China Space Cooperation in New Stimson Center Publication

SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden has published an article entitled "U.S.-China Cooperation in Space: Constraints, Possibilities, and Options" as part of an edited volume published by the Stimson Center on "Anti-Satellite Weapons, Deterrence and Sino-American Space Relations."

The article provides a framework for examining and evaluating how the United States and China might cooperate in the space arena, based in part on a previous Stimson Center panel discussion on U.S.-China cooperation in space. The article outlines the three broad areas for cooperation (space policy dialogue, information and data sharing, and joint activities) along with specific examples of each and how they are limited by political and technical constraints. The article concludes with a comparison of two potential paths forward for cooperation between the two countries, one bottom-up and one top-down, and calls for the creation of a cohesive engagement strategy that pulls together multiple projects and initiatives.

Presentations

September 23-27, 2013

SWF Staff Participates in the 2013 International Astronautical Congress in Beijing, China

Every year, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) together with the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), holds the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). The IAC is an annual meeting of the actors in the discipline of space and consists of plenary sessions, lectures and meetings. In addition there is a large exhibition running concurrently.

The congress is attended by the agency heads and senior executives of the world's space agencies along with academics, researchers, industry and commerce executives, students and young professionals.

SWF has had a strong presence and participation at IACs for several years now. Many staff members have presented papers, chaired sessions, organized side events and participated in various Technical Committees. To read this year's staff papers, please click here.

 

October 17, 2013

SWF Executive Director Michael Simpson Delivers Closing Address at the 9th Annual International Symposium on Personal and Commercial Spaceflight

Organized each year by the New Mexico Space Grant Coalition, the International Symposium on Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) has become a major opportunity for entrepreneurs, companies, and government to compare notes on the rapid progress being made in the field of commercial space activity. 

Dr. Simpson's address incorporated SWF's themes and structured cooperation, sustainability and freedom of access while summarizing both the practical and visionary themes that presenters had evoked during the two day event.