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SWF July 2017 Newsletter
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Upcoming Events
Jul 10, 2017
Trash in the Skies II: Industry Perspectives on Dealing with Space Debris

Jul 17-20, 2017
2017 NOAA Satellite Conference 

Aug 7, 2017
Cubesat Launch and Deployment Best Practices Side Event

Aug 10, 2017
Dialogue on Practices for Post Mission Disposal

Sep 6, 2017
2017 Roundtable on Value and Benefit Creation in Commercial Space

Sep 21, 2017
2017 AMOS Dialogue in Maui

Upcoming Engagements
Jul 6-11, 2017
Michael Simpson will teach at ISU's Space Studies Program in Cork, Ireland and lead a workshop on living with disruptive technology

Jul 10-28, 2017
Chris Johnson will attend the Hague Academy of International Law's 2017 summer course on Public International Law at the Peace Palace, the Hague, Netherlands

Jul 12, 2017
Victoria Samson will speak at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Ethics and Rule of Law's Summer Internship Seminar on Space Security

Jul 12-15, 2017
Michael Simpson will participate in the Brooke Owens Fellowship Conference in Washington, DC

Jul 31-Aug 4, 2017
Chris Johnson will serve as adjunct faculty at ISU's Space Studies Program in Cork, Ireland and lead a workshop on treaty negotiation

Aug 5-11,2017
Brian Weeden and Ian Christensen will attend the 2017 SmallSat Conference in Logan, UT

Aug 21-Sep 9, 2017
Chris Johnson will participate in the Hague Academy of International Law’s 2017 Centre for Studies and Research ‘50 Years of Space Law - Space Law in 50 Years’ in the Hague, Netherlands

Secure World Foundation Newsletter

July 2017

Insight - The Rule of Law and Military Space Activities

By Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning

Over the last several years, there has been growing concern about armed conflict on Earth extending into space which may include attacks against satellites and space capabilities. This concern is driven by the growing use of space for national security purposes by many countries, and the resulting proliferation of counterspace, or antisatellite, capabilities. The potential for increased threats to satellites and space capabilities has in turn generated discussions in several countries, including the United States, on not only preventing and deterring attacks in space, but also on the sovereign right of self-defense in space.

While armed conflict is a relatively new issue for the space world, it has been an unfortunate feature of human civilization. Over time, the international community has created a body of international law that defines the circumstances by which states may use armed force, and limits the effects caused by armed conflict. This body of international law is generally referred to as International Humanitarian Law (IHL), or the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC). IHL exists as both formal treaties agreed to by states, and state practice that has over time developed into customary international law. Another important piece of international law is the United Nations Charter, which  forbids the threat or use of force between nations in Article 2.4, but also recognizes the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense in response to an armed attack under Article 51. Article 2.4 of the Charter of the United Nations also formally forbids the threat or use of force between nations...continue reading 

Events

Jun 21, 2017
"Governing Space Activity in the 21st Century" Event Report and Video Now Available
SWF co-sponsored an event at Wilton Park in the UK this past March, "Governing Space in the 21st Century," which gathered global representatives from government, industry, and academia to assess the prospects for improving the governance of human activity in space. The Wilton Park conference summary report and video are available here.

Jun 29, 2017
SWF Co-Sponsored and Organized the Space Weather Enterprise Forum
The forum, co-sponsored by SWF with the National Space Weather Partnership, brought together a blended audience of space weather experts from both research and operations, space weather users from the public and private sectors, academia, international representatives, and policy makers. Using the theme of "Implementing a National Space Weather Partnership," four panels discussed space weather impacts and mitigation, space weather services and supporting infrastructure, the National Space Weather Strategy, and the National Space Weather Partnership. 

Staff Activities and Presentations

Jun 8, 2017
State of Space 2017: An International Perspectives Panel
Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson moderated the State of Space 2017: An International Perspectives Panel at the American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law's 2017 Space Law Symposium at the University Club in Washington, DC. His panelists Micheline Tabache of ESA, Atsushi Mizushima of Nishimura & Asahi LLP, Kim Ellis of International Earth & Space Technology Ltd., and Bob Calmes of Arendt & Medernach LLC discussed recent commercial space developments in Japan, Australia, Luxembourg, and from ESA’s perspective.

Jun 13, 2017
SWF Participated in the 60th Plenary Session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Executive Director Michael Simpson and Washington Office Director Victoria Samson participated in the 60th session of the United National Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Simpson delivered our Exchange of Views statement updating the Committee on SWF's activities since the last COPUOS plenary. Ms. Samson delivered a statement on SWF's Handbook for New Actors in Space.

Jun 13, 2017
Small Satellites and Norms of Behavior in Space
Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden gave a presentation on "Norms of Behavior in Space" to the 19th annual Small Payload Rideshare Symposium in Laurel, Maryland. The Symposium is hosted by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to discuss concepts and technologies that will enable the small payload community to meet future launch needs and test new capabilities in a cost-effective manner.

Jun 16, 2017
SWF Staff Attend the US Geospatial Intelligence Forum
From June 4-7, Washington Office Director Victoria Samson and Project Manager Krystal Wilson participated in the annual Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Forum in San Antonio, Texas.
The GEOINT Symposium is a gathering of companies displaying their latest earth observation and data integration products to governments, universities, and other companies. Ms. Wilson was selected  for the Young Professionals Golden Ticket Program, a program that provided additional events and networking opportunities to new members of the GEOINT community.

Jun 27, 2017
SWF Provides Technical Expertise to Second MILAMOS Workshop in New Delhi, India
Dr. Weeden participated in the second workshop to develop a Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Use of Outer Space (MILAMOS) from June 23-25, 2017. The MILAMOS project was co-founded by McGill University in Canada and the University of Adelaide in Australia. Dr. Weeden participated as a technical expert advising the group focused on international law and use of force.

Jun 28, 2017
"SWF and Small Satellites" at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Small Satellites Working Group
The Small Satellites Working Group informs and educates the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) stakeholder community on the user needs for – and technical capabilities of – small satellites and associated tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination (TPED) systems. Ms. Wilson gave a presentation on "Secure World Foundation and Small Satellites" to the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) Small Satellites Working Group in Herndon, VA. The presentation provided an overview of SWF's ongoing work regarding small satellites. 

Jun 29, 2017
SWF Speaks and Participates in 2017 NewSpace Conference
Organized by the Space Frontier Foundation, NewSpace is an annual conference focused on technology, business and investment trends in the entrepreneurial and commercial space sector. Project Manager Ian Christensen spoke at the 2017 NewSpace Conference in San Francisco, CA, as part of a panel focused on "Space Commodities."  The panel discussed the ways various areas of commercial space innovation and investment might form a sustainable space economy. Mr. Christensen also distributed SWF's Handbook for New Actors in Space to conference participants.

Experts in the Media

Jun 16, 2017
US Air Force's Space Fence enters hardware installation phase
Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden Quoted by Jane's 360 on Impact of the New S-Band Space Fence on SSA

Jun 16, 2017
US Air Force reorganizes approach to space
Dr. Weeden Quoted by DefenseNews on the New USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Space

Jun 28, 2017
Pentagon 'Space Corps' Plan Leaves Earth Science in the Dust
Washington Office Director Victoria Samson Quoted by Wired on the Possibility of a 'Space Corps'

Announcements

Jul 5, 2017
SWF Scholarships for IAC 2017 have been announced
SWF is pleased to announce the recipients of the Young Professionals Scholarships for travel funding to attend and present their papers at the 2017 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide, Australia. More than 60 abstracts from young professionals around the world were submitted. After a rigorous scoring process, five winners were selected to receive scholarships. As the premiere international space conference, the IAC offers a unique opportunity for young professionals to further their professional development and inject new ideas into the community.

The recipients are: Yashwanth Amara, David L.X. Ho, Simona Spassova, Dimitra Stefoudi, and Natalia Indira Vargas Cuentas.

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