Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org ©2011 Secure World Foundation. Used with Permission APPRAISING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOLUNTARY RULES IN THE SPACE DOMAIN: AN NGO PERSPECTIVE Ray A. Williamson Senior Advisor Secure World Foundation

Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org 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.

Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org 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 swfound.org 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 swfound.org 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 swfound.org Images courtesy NASA Debris Office The Growing Orbital Debris Threat

Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org 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 swfound.org 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 swfound.org 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 swfound.org Reaching Sustainability: The Way Forward The process is important, even critical for reaching agreement 1.Identifying the need for some rules 2.Broad international consultation and discussion to understand the technical & operational issues 3.Developing a draft set of rules 4.Broad international consultation and discussion to collect concerns over draft rules 5.Revising draft rules to meet State concerns 6.More international consultation and discussion to arrive at an agreed draft among most if not all State actors

Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org ORBITAL DEBRIS GROWTH Catalogued Debris in Orbit

Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org 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 for more informationhttp://swfound.org/media/1800/ssa_fact_sheet.pdf

Promoting Cooperative Solutions for Space Sustainability swfound.org  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

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