SWF Staff Participate in the 55th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS

Friday, February 9, 2018

SWF Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden and Program Manager Krystal Wilson represented SWF at the 55th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), which was held in Vienna, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 2018. The annual STSC meeting brings together delegations from 87 countries and 20 permanent observer organizations to discuss international space activities and challenges.

The SWF staff provided an annual update on SWF activities that highlighted SWF's activities between June 2017 and February 2018 in support of the aims of STSC, including ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, fostering the development of sound space policy and law, and enhancing the use of space technology and international cooperation in support of human and environmental security on Earth. Dr. Weeden also gave an update on the SWF Handbook for New Actors in Space, which was unveiled at the 54th session of STSC in 2017, and Ms. Wilson engaged with subcommittee members on the Handbook, UNISPACE +50 planning, and topics related to human and environmental security.

SWF staff also participated in the informal technical discussions on guidelines to enhance the long-term sustainability of space activities. UNCOPUOS reached consensus on an initial set of 12 guidelines in June 2016, and reached consensus on nine additional guidelines and the preambulatory text during this February session. The LTS Working Group will conclude in the Plenary session of UNCOPUOS in June 2018.