SWF Tapped to Lead Teamwork Panel at Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Executive Director Dr. Michael Simpson moderated the panel on “Enabling Space-Faring Nations to Work Together as a Team” during the February 1 morning session of the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi. Using the example of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), the panel explored the challenges and rewards of international cooperation in an area where its absence could create substantial obstacles to the exploration of space. As noted on the ccsds.org website (https://public.ccsds.org/default.aspx), the 35 year-old organization brings together leading space communications experts from 27 nations to collaborate in developing the most well-engineered space communications and data handling standards in the world. That scientific spacecraft can relay their data to Earth and receive transmitted commands without interference is dependent on the development and respect of these standards. Dr. Simpson was joined on the panel by James Afrin, NASA, Eduardo Bergamini, INPE Brazil, and  Mohammed Naser Al Rashedi, UAE Space Agency.  During the two day Congress, Dr. Simpson also briefed participants on the work of the Hague Space Resources Governance Working Group of which he is a Vice Chair.