Post on 10-Jan-2016
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Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
swfound.org<Event, Date> ©2011 Secure World Foundation. Used with Permission
APPRAISING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOLUNTARY RULES IN THE SPACE
DOMAIN: AN NGO PERSPECTIVE
Ray A. WilliamsonSenior Advisor
Secure World Foundationrwilliamson@swfound.org
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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About Secure World Foundation
Secure World Foundation (SWF) is a small, privately-endowed non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the secure and sustainable use of
space for the benefit of Earth and all its peoples.
http://www.swfound.org
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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The Foundation…
• Engages with academics, policy makers, scientists and advocates in the space and international affairs communities to support steps that strengthen global space sustainability.
• Promotes the development of cooperative and effective uses of space for the protection of Earth’s environment and human security.
• Acts as a research body, convener and facilitator to advocate for key space security and other space related topics and to examine their influence on governance and international development.
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Secure World Foundation• Recognizes the substantial benefits afforded to society by
space systems• Recognizes that the sustainability of the space
environment is threated• Supports the development of workable international
rules and procedures in support of the long term sustainability of the space environment
• Recognizes that there are many ways to achieve space sustainability
• Assists efforts toward space sustainability with independent analysis, publications, and focused international discussion
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Space sustainability is...
Ensuring that all humanity can continue to use outer space for peaceful purposes and
socioeconomic benefit.
This will require international cooperation, discussion, and agreements designed to ensure
that outer space is safe, secure and peaceful.
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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1960 1970 1980
1990 2000 2010
Images courtesy NASA Debris Office
The Growing Orbital Debris Threat
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Some Voluntary Rules
In support of a safe, secure, sustainable environment
• Inter-Agency Debris Coordinating Committee (IADC) Guidelines
• UN COPUOS Debris Guidelines • Proposed International Code of Conduct for Outer Space
Activities• Proposed “best practice guidelines” of UN COPUOS
Working Group on the Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTSSA)
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Why Do Voluntary Guidelines Work?
• Voluntary guidelines are worked out by majority of stakeholders in multilateral setting; political buy-in
• States are responsible for actions of citizens in space – States need to to monitor and regulate actions
• Desire of most States to be seen as responsible members of global community
• Every State operating in outer space has a self-interest in maintaining a sustainable space environment, so it can continue to operate safely and effectively
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Issues with voluntary rules
• Growing number and complexity of space actors– New agencies– Private companies, some very large, international ones– Universities– International governmental organizations (IGOs)
• Space activities within a State may progress faster than State regulations and licensing
• Compliance depends on the will of the State to monitor and regulate space activities of its citizens
• Less wealthy States may find it difficult to follow guidelines agreed to by wealthy ones
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Reaching Sustainability: The Way Forward
• The process is important, even critical for reaching agreement1. Identifying the need for some rules2. Broad international consultation and discussion to
understand the technical & operational issues3. Developing a draft set of rules4. Broad international consultation and discussion to collect
concerns over draft rules5. Revising draft rules to meet State concerns6. More international consultation and discussion to arrive at
an agreed draft among most if not all State actors
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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ORBITAL DEBRIS GROWTH
Catalogued Debris in Orbit
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Some future challenges• Improving space situational awareness (SSA) of objects in
outer space*– Creation of SSA programs in spacefaring States– Improved sharing of warnings by the United States– Development of the Space Data Association– International Scientific Optical Network (ISON)
• Debris removal– Experts estimate that the space community will need to remove
5-10 large objects per year to reduce long term threat from fragmentation
– Not just a technical issue, but also political, legal, economic one
* See http://swfound.org/media/1800/ssa_fact_sheet.pdf for more information
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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http://swfound.org/resource-library/ Space debris Space law Space situational awareness Country and region specific space issues Planetary defense Human security and space Civil space International security and space National security and space
SWF INFORMATION RESOURCES
Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability
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Thank youQuestions?