Seeing Space Security: The role of space situational awareness for verification of future space arms control

Growing international concerns about the weaponization of outer space, and the greater potential for future armed conflict there, is reigniting interest in space arms control. One of the biggest challenges for the development of meaningful arms control for outer space is how such agreements could be verified. Some space arms control initiatives have focused on banning specific types of space objects, which critics have argued are difficult to verify. However, another approach is on arms-control measures focusing on specific actions that could be verified using space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities some States and non-governmental organizations are already developing.

This two-hour discussion hosted by Secure World Foundation (SWF) and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) will examine the potential for using SSA to verify future space arms control agreements. It will bring together experts from commercial, academic, and intergovernmental organizations to discuss current and emerging SSA capabilities as well as their limitations and lessons learned from other domains with existing verification regimes.

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Agenda 

10:00 - Opening - Dr. Renata Dwan, UNIDIR

10:05 - What can we see? A technical analysis of current SSA capabilities

Speakers:

• Dr. Dan Ceperley, LeoLabs
• Dr. Doug Hendrix, ExoAnalytic Solutions
• Dr. Moriba Jah, University of Texas, Austin
• Dr. Regina Peldszus, German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy

Moderator:

• Ms. Victoria Samson, SWF

11:00 - What can we do? Lessons and ideas from verification regimes

Speakers:

• Dr. Asha Balakrishnan, Science and Technology Policy Institute
• Dr. Gunnar Jeremais, University of Hamburg
• Mr. Larry McFaul, VERTIC

Moderator:

• Dr. John Borrie, UNIDIR

11:50 - Commentator: Dr. Brian Weeden, SWF

11:55 - Closing - Dr. Peter Martinez, SWF

For more information, please visit the UNIDIR event page or contact Washington Office Director Victoria Samson.