Senator Barack Obama releases space policy objectives

Democratic Candidate for President Senator Barack Obama has released his space policy plan, entitled “Advancing the Frontiers of Space Exploration.” It is significantly more detailed than the space policy plans of Republican Candidate for President Senator John McCain, though between now and the general election details of both plans can be expected to grow in detail.

In sum, Obama’s plan begins with the reestablishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, which has seen varying levels of activity since its founding in 1958. Since 1992, the council has been effectively non-existent. Obama sees this body as an essential element in ensuring the United States follows a comprehensive space vision. This also fits in with Obama’s desire to facilitate better coordination between various federal agencies with space missions to reduce redundancies and save money, which he mentions later in the policy.

In terms of space science and exploration, Obama supports investments in finding a way to close the gap between the final Space Shuttle flight in 2010 and the first Ares-Orion flight in 2015 or later. He advocates accelerating development of the Shuttle successor system, presumably the Orion system but possibly another yet-to-be-determined program. Obama supports the use of the private sector in supporting governemnt programs, such as the current NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. In fact, there is good detail in the policy covering commercial space generally, including “expansion of public-private partnerships to advance leading edge technologies,” enhancing the role of NASA as a “premier institute of innovation,” promoting cost-sharing initiatives between government and private industry, supporting commercial access to space and expanding the American skill base in science and engineering.

A substantial amount of space policy language focuses on international cooperation, especially in terms of the International Space Station (ISS), whose future should be developed in detail beyond 2016, according to Obama. By international cooperation, Obama also includes “non-traditional partners,” which could mean China. He also endorses the objective of sending Americans to the Moon by 2020.

Obama goes on to detail his support for NASA space science programs and Earth monitoring, with emphasis on global change for the latter. He also highlights the need for robust aeronautics research, especially in light of the demands being placed on the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

He includes a good deal of information about the need for a more robust education and outreach program, including the use of the space program to enhance the education of current and future generations, “establishing educational access to government programs and research and development, inspiring learning through participatory exploration, establishing teacher-researcher fund for high schools, increasing opportunities for college students, and encouraging open participation among public servants on our nation’s space agenda.”

Of particular interest to the Secure World Foundation is language focused on space security. Obama mentions the need for “an international approach to minimizing space debris, enhancing capabilities for space situational awareness, and managing increasingly complex space operations.” Obama also reiterates his stand on opposing the weaponization of space, including the “stationing of weapons in space and the development of anti-satellite weapons.” He supports the current Operationally Responsive Space mission being pursued by the Department of Defense to protect space assets, which is not a weapons-based approach. He also adds focus on the need for revising regulations for aerospace export control, specifically the need to modify the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR), which has been the bane of international space cooperation for years.

Comings and goings

Dr. Ray Williamson has returned from the International Space University annual seminar, held in Barcelona, Spain this year, and Phil Smith has returned from the Mars Society annual conference. Later this month, Ray will be attending the CRECTEALC/SRE/INAOE – II Seminar on Outreach and Information: Activities of the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean in Mexico City, Mexico. The objective of this seminar is to discuss benefits CRECTEALC offers to Latin American countries; inform new objectives for a multilateral space agenda; to promote discussions on the importance and benefits of the use of space technology for sustainable development; and the need for high-level education and training for specialized personnel in the academic, public and private sectors in the various relevant fields.

Leonard David, Information Manager for the Secure World Foundation, moderated a very successful debate on space issues between Lori Garver, representing Senator Barack Obama and Walt Cunningham, representing Senator John McCain. An excellent write up is provided by Dr. Jeff Foust at The Space Review. This week, Leonard is attending the Space Transportation for the 21st Century: Passing the Torch - A DC-X/XA Reunion workshop in Alamogordo, New Mexico this week. The conference, held at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, will focus on "aircraft-like space access for the 21st century."

Brian Weeden, SWF Technical Consultant and Ben Baseley-Walker, SWF Foreign Policy Consultant will be attending the Cornell Space Warfare Workshop. This is a two-day workshop organized by MIT and Cornell. The goal is to have a debate on the feasibility of various tactics and strategies and space warfare in general.

Russia formally reiterates opposition to weaponization of outer space

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev approved a new version of Russia's foreign policy doctrine on July 12. While retaining much of the content from the Vladimir Putin days, the document does contain several new sections. Among them is one explicitly stating that Russia opposes the weaponization of outer space and proposes "collective security arrangements" as an alternative to deployment of strategic missile defenses, such as the one currently being pursued by the United States, the Czech Republic and Poland. According to Jane's Defence Weekly (July 30, 2008), Russia's new foreign policy doctrine contains significantly more language on arms control and collective security than previous incarnations.

Brian Weeden presents at 2008 UCS Summer Symposium

SWF technical consultant Brian Weeden just returned from the Union of Concerned Scientist's Summer Symposium 2008. This 8-day event brings together a mix of younger and more experienced international technical researchers in the security field, with focus on PhD graduates starting their post-doctoral work. 35 participants from 12 countries attended the event, each giving a 45-minute presentation on their current or proposed area of research. Focus was on not only the technical content but also the policy implications of the work. Brian gave presentations on both an overview of the space security field and one of his current research topics, Sun-synchronous zoning. Overall, the event was a huge success with many new ideas and relationships emerging between different technical security researchers from different countries.

MIT Conference on Science and Global Security

Brian Weeden, Technical Consultant for the Secure World Foundation and Ben Baseley-Walker, Foreign Policy Consultant for SWF, have returned from the Conference on Science and Global Security. This event was sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists and held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Conference brought together international technical security researchers from a number of different disciplines to discuss current issues in areas such as nuclear proliferation, nanotechnology, space security, and arms control. In particular, the recent international growth in the field of technical security and its interface with policy making was highlighted.

NASA turns 50

On July 29, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Act (PL 85-568) was passed by Congress, creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ten months after the successful launch by the Soviet Union of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. The act, signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was drafted by the United States House Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration. NASA replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), established in 1915 to conduct aeronautics research and development.

37th COSPAR Conference

This week Secure World Foundation Executive Director Ray Williamson and consultant Agnieszka Lukaszczyk are presenting a paper at the COSPAR conference in Montreal entitled: The Role of Space-related Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Capacity Building. Other papers in the session entitled Capacity Building: Strategies for Success include The role of Government in Capacity Building [Peter Martinez], The Role of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Building Capacity [Hans Haubold], and The role of regional organisations in building capacity [Adigun Ade Abiodun]. Photo (from left to right): Pedro Mier, Ray Williamson and Francis Chizea.