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Secure World Foundation Newsletter - September/October 2014

Announcements

SWF Celebrates SRTM-2 Data Release; Recognized in White House Announcement

September 23, 2014

During the Climate Summit in New York City, the White House announced actions to promote global climate resilience, including the much-anticipated release of global high-resolution elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 2 (SRTM-2). SWF was recognized in the announcement as one of the key partners involved in the data release initiative and in its ongoing capacity-building efforts to enable the use of this information in developing countries. As part of its Human and Environmental Security initiative, SWF is working with interagency and international partners in the roll out of the data, which will include a series of regional capacity-building workshops around the world.

Recent SWF Events

Successful Asteroid Impact Risk Communication Workshop Held in Colorado

September 9 - 10, 2014

SWF hosted a two-day workshop on communication about near-Earth object (NEO) hazards and impact mitigation in Broomfield, Colorado. The workshop was organized at the request and for the benefit of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), an international group of organizations involved in detecting, tracking, and characterizing NEOs organized in response to a United Nations recommendation. The event brought together a diverse group of experts from the NEO science, risk communication, policy, and government emergency management communities to provide communication guidance and advice to managers and directors of IAWN member programs and institutions. A workshop report that includes key findings and recommendations has been submitted to IAWN for approval.

 

SWF Actively Contributes to SSA Policy Discussions at the 2014 AMOS Conference

September 9-12, 2014

Once again, SWF had a significant presence at the 2014 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance (AMOS) Conference. For the third year in a row, SWF actively participated in the Policy Forum held the day before the technical conference. SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden was a speaker on the first panel on U.S. policy on space situational awareness (SSA) and space security. SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson moderated the second panel on international perspectives on SSA.

On September 11, SWF partnered with the Maui Economic Development Board to hold the second annual AMOS Dialogue in Maui, a small, invitation-only workshop to foster dialogue on SSA policy issues. Prompted by the growing involvement of the private sector in SSA, the goal of this year's Dialogue was to promote greater collaboration and cooperation between governmental and non-governmental SSA initiatives.

 

SWF-Space Show Showcase Role of Satellites in Disaster Management Webinars

September 22, 2014

Given the increasing role of space-based Earth observations in understanding, predicting, and responding to natural disasters, The Space Show and SWF hosted a 2-hour webinar on the role of satellites in disaster risk monitoring and management (DRRM).  The expert panel, which included SWF Project Manager Laura Delgado López, highlighted examples of satellite-enabled DRMM, the international resources available to assist in this effort, and discussed emerging challenges and opportunities in this work.  Panelists responded to questions from the audience, including potential for commercial innovations to be included in DRMM efforts. An archived version of the webinar is available here.

 

SWF Sponsors SGC Working Group on Policy and Legal Aspects of On-Orbit Servicing

September 25 - 27, 2014

SWF sponsored a working group at the 13th Space Generation Congress (SGC), the annual meeting of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), held in Toronto, Canada from September 25 to 27. The working group, led by SWF Project Manager Chris Johnson and comprised of 21 student and young professional delegates from 12 countries and a variety of academic disciplines, considered the legal and political implications of on-orbit servicing, an emerging opportunity in the commercial space industry with significant political and security implications.The delegates played a board of regulators that included representatives from executive, legislative, and regulatory offices, specifically science and technology policy advisers, foreign ministers, civil aviation administrators, and military representatives. Delegates also simulated the views of foreign governments who might be wary of commercial activities that might impact their military assets in space.

 

SWF Plays Active Role in IAC

September 29 - October 3, 2014

Over 3,000 aerospace professionals from around the world met in Toronto, Canada for the 2014 International Astronautical Congress (IAC). SWF used this opportunity to support young professionals in their career path, as well as have SWF staff contribute substantively to the technical discussions. SWF hosted a lunch with the six recipients of the 2014 SWF IAC scholarship, who presented their work in different technical sessions during the conference.  As part of the International Astronautical Federation’s (IAF) Global Networking Forum, SWF Washington Director Victoria Samson moderated a discussion with international experts entitled “Space Governance: An International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.” Ms. Samson also presented a paper during the technical session on space sustainability. SWF Project Manager Laura Delgado López also presented a paper in this session. Ms. Delgado López also joined a group of 30 international delegates for the IAF International Programme Management Committee’s Young Professional Workshop; furthermore, Ms. Delgado López gave a presentation on SWF activities to the IAF meeting of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean countries.  SWF Project Manager Christopher Johnson was very involved in the International Institute of Space Law's moot court competition. Finally, SWF Executive Director Michael Simpson represented SWF at both sessions of the IAF General Assembly and at the World Space Week Board Meeting, participated in the meetings of three IAF committees and with SWF Operations Manager Lisa Croy also attended panels, side meetings and plenary events during the IAC.

SWF Co-Hosts Brussels Event on Radiofrequency Interference

October 9, 2014

SWF and Institut français des relations internationals (IFRI) co-hosted an event on radiofrequency interference (RFI) in Brussels, Belgium.  This one-day conference examined how RFI affects a variety of issues, including freedom of information (deliberate interference), terrestrial telecommunication services (notably C-band), and governance of the geostationary arc (unintentional interference). Space News attended and covered the event with three articles, links to which can be found on SWF's event page for this conference.

 

SWF-UNIDIR Event Highlights Cross-cutting Nature of Space Security

October 15, 2014

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York City this month, SWF and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) organized an evening event to highlight the cross-cutting nature of space security. During the event, which included remarks from SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson, speakers noted ongoing international efforts to promote space security and sustainability and recognized the need for responsible behavior in space to safeguard critical space activities. The event was hosted by the Mission of Kazakhstan and sponsored by SWF and the Embassy of the United Kingdom.

Staff Publications

Chris Johnson Authors Chapter on Law and Regulations for Small Satellite Programs

Chris Johnson's chapter on the law and regulations for small satellites is included in the Small Satellite Program Guide, a new publication offering information, tools, techniques, and lessons learned for people wanting to establish new space programs and projects. The book provides step-by-step guidance on setting up and managing small satellite programs - discussing stakeholders, infrastructure, organizing people and processes, spacecraft integration and testing, and launch and operations. Chapter 5 - "Legal and Regulatory Considerations" explains the international legal framework, starting with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and its requirements for international state responsibility and potential liability, governmental oversight and licensing for national space activities, and the framework for international frequency coordination and allocation through the International Telecommunication Union. The chapter then discusses national legislation and regulation, contractual concerns, space insurance, and related issues such as space debris mitigation measures.

SWF Releases Updated Fact Sheet on Space Situational Awareness

SWF has released an updated fact sheet on SSA. The fact sheet discusses what SSA is and the technologies involved, provides an overview of current capabilities and initiatives, and explains why improving SSA for all space actors is an important part of space sustainability. The update adds details on new additions to the U.S. military's space surveillance network (SSN), European efforts to create a regional SSA capability, and information on new private-sector SSA initiatives that have emerged in the past year.

Beyond the Moon Agreement: Norms of responsible behavior for private sector activities on the Moon and celestial bodies

Laura Delgado López's September 2014 article is now available online in Space Policy.

Staff Activities and Presentations

Laura Delgado López Moderates AAS-AMS Google+ Hangout on Extreme Weather

September 18, 2014

SWF Project Manager Laura Delgado López moderated the Overcoming Extreme Weather Google+ Hangout. Hosted by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and sponsored by Northrop Grumman, the hour-long event featured top weather experts who highlighted the next-generation environmental science, technology, and human skills delivering increasingly critical weather information. Over 1,400 viewers tuned in to watch the live event, now available as an archive here. Ms. Delgado López serves on the AAS Board of Directors.

 

Brian Weeden Discusses Space Security and Sustainability at the Council on Foreign Relations

October 15, 2014

SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden spoke in New York City at a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Roundtable on Promoting Space Security and Sustainability. Mr. Weeden was joined by Frank A. Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Defense Policy, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, U.S. Department of State. The event was organized and moderated by Dr. Micah Zenko, the Douglas Dillon Fellow at CFR's Center for Preventative Action.

The Roundtable discussed current threats to outer space, the development of counterspace capabilities, the current status of multilateral negotiations and initiatives to promote space security and sustainability, and future challenges in ensuring the long-term stability of the space environment.

SWF Executive Director Delivers Closing Talk at ISPCS

October 16, 2014

Executive Director Dr. Michael Simpson delivered the closing spotlight talk at this year's International Symposium on Personal and Commercial Space Flight (ISPCS) held in Las Cruces, NM. Addressing the theme, "Congested, Contested, and INVESTED," Dr. Simpson spoke about the growing impact of space debris collision risk on mission and business planning and highlighted the opportunity for the entrepreneurial community to make an important contribution to debris mitigation and prevention.

Brian Weeden lectures on National Security and Military Uses of Outer Space

October 28, 2014

As part of a week-long program on Strategic Space Law held in Montreal, Canada, SWF Senior Technical Advisor Brian Weeden's lecture provided an overview of the historical origins of national security and military space activities, an overview of the major national security and military uses of space, and a summary of the current trends and emerging activities.

The program was organized by the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL) and featured an intensive, interdisciplinary, interactive workshop and lecture series for lawyers and other professionals in the defense services, international relations, government, international organizations, law firms, consulting firms and industry from around the world to study space law in a strategic context.