RRF Spectrum, The Global Commons & Planetary Defense McGill University-World Economic Forum Session on the Economic Benefits of Space Joseph N. Pelton Former Dean, International Space Univ. and former Director of Intelsat’s Project SHARE July 2013

We should not forget risks to global economics that come from space

Our survival in space is actually high risk and our “Global Commons” resources taken for granted. Humans travel through space at 66,000 miles per hour (or about 125,000 kilometers/hour) on a space ship protected with a thin atmosphere--equivalent in size to the rind of an apple. It is time we recognize that humans and all of our increasingly complex machinery are very vulnerable to cosmic threats. Space programs that can create a planetary defense are not a frill but something that are needed to protect human civilization. RF Spectrum, the Ozone Layer, the Van Allen belts and the Geomagnetosphe are global resources of the global commons that are vital to our survival and all world economic activity.

Space is central to but “hidden from” most considerations of Global Economics Space technology is now essential to coping with climate change, problems such as the Ozone Hole and other atmospheric and stratospheric issues. Recently there are signs of “cracks in the Earth’s magnetic field and changes to the Van Allen’s belts that suggest serious concerns about cosmic hazards & how they may increase in coming years. Again the economic impact and risk levels are outside the scope and even beyond our easy imagination, but understand that these risks are potentially far, far greater than the damage caused by weapons of mass destruction. (i.e. We release the equivalent of 300,000 Hiroshima sized bombs every day in today’s “normal” global economic activity.) I will focus on Spectrum issues as just one issue but orbital debris, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, or near earth objects could not only endanger humans, but endanger our modern energy and information infrastructure that are vital tothe future economic growth on our planet.

The crater from the 5 km asteroid that killed the dinosaurs

Typical potentially hazardous Asteroids

Global RF Spectrum More than a 1000 Geo, Meo, and Leo Satellites providing vital services for weather, communications, broadcasting,navigation, remote sensing, surveillance and defense (beyond small and nano satellites). Orbital slots in Geo orbit “worth” millions of dollars (US) per year. Spectrum shared with terrestrial wireless systems. (There are some 20 different ITU defined services. Virtually all satellites are communications satellites and require frequency.)

Problems with Frequency Management Globally Efficient sharing with terrestrial wireless services and now advent of High Altitude Platforms. More and more countries using space applications Many developing countries need more spectrum and spectrum demand growing 40% per year. Problems include: “paper satellites”, interference and jamming (unintentional and intentional), 4 th generation broadband services, hybrid satellites networks, national exceptions (i.e. asterisks), conflicting requirements both for sats and terrestrial services, (Should need, vital needs (DR) or economics rule?), ITU nor COPUOS do not have the tools, enforcement powers, to deal with escalation problems. Spectrum today is a brake on economic growth e.g. ATMs & banking in India, O3b, hybrid satellites, etc.

Solutions ??? More powers to ITU with ability to impose sanctions, fines, revoke allocations Use of financial mechanisms such as posting of bonds, greater role for insurance companies with regard to risk, liability and compensation formulas. Restructure UN mechanisms. Perhaps we might use the World Trade Organization as a model for extending more powers to WTO in the space business arena?