Over the last several decades, there has been growing awareness and increased alarm in the space community and the general public about the risk posed by the buildup of orbital debris.
Among the first to sound the warning were NASA scientists Don Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais, who described the possibility of a cascading series of collisions between space objects in their landmark 1978 paper.
At the time, the worry was that at some point this phenomenon, later dubbed the Kessler Syndrome, would create enough human-generated space debris that it would pose more of a risk to active satellites than the naturally occurring space debris.
Agenda Released for the 6th Summit for Space Sustainability: Register Now!
We’re thrilled to release the topical agenda for the event, showcasing the breadth of discussions planned.
Join hundreds of global experts and stakeholders from industry, governments, and civil society to participate in keynotes, interactive sessions, panels, and networking.
With a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region, key themes for this event include:
Active debris removal progress and challenges
Space situational awareness initiatives
Commercial space industry’s role in space sustainability
The interaction of civil, security, and commercial space
SWF wants to give a warm welcome to the 2 newest Advisory Committee members, Jim Bridenstine and Audrey Schaffer. Mr. Bridenstine is a former U.S. House of Representative and former NASA Administrator.
Ms. Schaffer currently serves as VP of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace.
We're thrilled to welcome Supriya, an economics student from Nepal and a Red Cross volunteer, as our new intern. Joining us through IREX and US State Department's CEE Program, Supriya will enhance our Communications team and support Space Applications Programs research for the next few months. Welcome to SWF, Supriya!
SWF’s Victoria Samson published a chapter in the ORF publication Future Warfighting and Critical Technologies: Evolving Tactics and Strategies
SWF Chief Director, Space Security and Stability Victoria Samson published a chapter in the publication, Future Warfare and Critical Technologies: Evolving Tactics and Strategies (New Delhi: ORF and Global Policy Journal, 2024). Her chapter, “Space and Counterspace Technologies in Future Warfare,” discusses the increasing proliferation of interest in and R&D on counterspace capabilities globally, the importance of space situational awareness in these types of programs, and how activities on and around the Moon could possibly lead to future conflict.
SWF’s Christopher Johnson co-authored a case note in the journal Air & Space Law
Abstract
The October 2023 enforcement decision by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) signifies a historical benchmark in the enforcement of space sustainability measures over private commercial space actors. Echostar-7, a commercial satellite launched in 2002 and operating at the Earth’s Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), provided direct broadcast telecommunications services to the US consumer market. Its operator, DISH Operating LLC, failed to properly boost the spacecraft to a disposal ‘graveyard’ orbit above GEO as required as part of its governmental license. An investigation by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau resulted in a Consent Decree with Dish, whereby Dish accepted liability, agreed to pay a penalty fine of 150,000 USD, and agreed to submit and adhere to a compliance plan regarding the proper disposal of the Echostar-7 spacecraft.
SWF and LeoLabs Host Orbital Debris Remediation Summit in New Zealand
Secure World Foundation and LeoLabs hosted an Orbital Debris Remediation Summit in Queenstown, New Zealand, February 20-22, 2024, to discuss and develop means to collectively address how to catalyze the operational deployment of remediation missions to include active debris removal (ADR).
The event brought together a focused group of international experts from industry, governments, and civil society to brainstorm ideas for making progress on ADR, specifically on large space debris. Read More.
January 29 - February 9 | Vienna, Austria
SWF Contributes to the 61st Session of the UN COPUOS STSC
The annual meeting brought together more than one hundred country delegations and two dozen observers to discuss and contribute their perspectives on issues related to the civil and peaceful uses of outer space, including orbital debris, long-term sustainability, and the use of space for global health and sustainable socioeconomic development.
SWF once again participated in its role as a permanent observer to the Committee.
SWF Chief Program Officer Dr. Brian Weeden made a statement under the Exchange of Views agenda item that provided an update on SWF activities since the last meeting of STSC.
SWF Chief Director, Space Security and Stability Victoria Samson moderated a panel at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)’s Space Situational Awareness Workshop, held in Springfield, VA.
Ms. Samson’s panel, “‘A Hybrid Approach to Space Situational Awareness’,” discussed the importance of government and private sector actors in working together to enhance SSA capabilities globally.
Interoperability was brought up as a consideration, as was the goal of applying lessons learned from other sectors who were able to incorporate commercial providers of data into their work.
February 11 - 12 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
SWF Speaks at the Saudi Space Debris Conference
SWF Executive Director Dr. Peter Martinez participated in the Saudi Space Debris Conference where he spoke on a panel on Translating Policy in Progress. Dr. Martinez also had discussions with the heads of space agencies and companies represented at the conference.
February 14 - 19 | Singapore
SWF Participates in the Global Space and Technology Convention
SWF Director, Space Applications Programs Krystal Azelton attended the Global Space and Technology Convention in Singapore from February 14-16.
She contributed to the industry Global B2B Marketplace where attendees shared insights and discussed international cooperation that will further propel the global space industry forward. On February 19th, she moderated a working group at the Earth Observation Workshop convened by RAL Space and the United Kingdom Space Agency.
February 20 | McLean, VA
SWF Participates in Panel at MITRE Civil Space Cooperation Summit
SWF Chief Director, Space Security and Stability Victoria Samson moderated a panel at the MITRE’s Civil Space Cooperation Summit, held in McLean, VA. Ms. Samson’s panel, "Space Services – Today and Tomorrow – 'An emerging technology discussion,’” examined how the space sector has evolved over the past few years, discussed how technology might help meet those challenges, and looked to the future for issues that may hamper/help civil space cooperation.
February 27 - 28 | Austin, Texas
SWF Speaks at the 10th Annual STM Conference at UT/Austin
Ms. Samson spoke on the panel, “Different Perspectives on Space National Security,” which discussed threats to space security and stability, as well as various approaches at the national and multilateral level to enhance it.
February 29 - March 1 | New York, New York
SWF Presents at the Intersessional Meeting of the GGE on PAROS
SWF Chief Director, Space Security and Stability Victoria Samson participated in the recent open-ended intersessional informal consultative meeting of the Group of Government Experts on substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
This meeting was intended to allow all Member States to participate in and give their views on the chair’s report from the first meeting of the GGE in November 2023, and was opened up to civil society as well.
Ms. Samson was able to give a statement to the participants where she discussed how the deliberate creation of debris threatens all users of space data; she also explained how nuclear explosions in orbit would harm satellites. Her statement can be found here.
March 21 | Christopher Johnson will speak at a UNOOSA side event co-organized by the Mission of Portugal and UNOOSA “Sustainability of Outer Space, Sustainable Development and the Pact of the Future” in New York City
March 21 | Krystal Azelton will speak on a panel at the Space and Satellite Reception hosted by the Hungarian Embassy and the Space Foundation in Washington, DC
March 25-27 | Ian Christensen will speak at the Space Resources Week in Luxembourg
April 3-5 | Dr. Brian Weeden will participate in a panel as part of SpaceTech 2024 at MIT’s 6th Annual Space Week in Boston, Massachusetts
April 8-11 | SWF will attend the 39th Space Symposium hosted by Space Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colorado
SWF published a summary report from the 2023 AMOS Dialogue in Maui, which was held in partnership with the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) as part of the 2023 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference.
