SWF now a member of UN Action Team on NEOs

The Secure World Foundation has been granted membership on Action Team-14, a special working group dedicated to near Earth objects (NEOs) within the Science and Technology Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). Action Team-14 focuses on the following:

1. Review the content, structure and organization of ongoing efforts in the field of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs);
2. Identify any gaps in the ongoing work where additional coordination is required and/or where other countries or organizations could make contributions; and
3. Propose steps for the improvement of international coordination in collaboration with specialized bodies.

SWF presents in Nairobi, Kenya

SWF Space Policy Consultant, Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, attended the United Nations/Kenya/ESA Regional Workshop on Integrated Space Technology Applications for Monitoring Climate Change Impact on Agricultural Development and Food Security, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya 1-5 December, 2008.

The primary objective of this Regional Workshop was to use integrated space technologies such as remote sensing and GIS, navigation and positioning, telecommunications, satellite meteorology, and Earth observations in applications that could contribute to the prevention and mitigation of global climate change induced issues. The issues focused on during this workshop were: prediction, monitoring and early warning of climate related disasters and environmental hazards such as flood, drought, and desertification; and improvement of regional food security such as sustainable agricultural development, land use and land cover change.

This workshop aimed at raising awareness of national and regional decision makers and professionals on the potential utilization of space technology applications, to exchange experience, and to initiating practical pilot projects. Agnieszka made a presentation titled "Building Appropriate Institutions to Support the Use of Earth Observations for Human Security". In addition, Agnieszka Chaired a Technical Session II "Global and Regional Collaborations and Initiatives".

New web page highlighting SWF staff publications and interviews

The Secure World Foundation website has been updated with a new page highlighting presentations and publications written by SWF staff members, as well as interviews conducted in which they were a part. Please visit the page here.

SWF presents at Space Security and Defense Conference

SWF Technical Consultant Brian Weeden and Communications Director Phil Smith recently returned from the Space Security and Defense Conference in Las Vegas. This 2-day event brought together leaders from the US military and the corporate world to discuss securing space assets and fixing the space acquisition process. Brian gave a presentation entitled “Protecting America’s Space Assets Through Denial Deterrence”.

European Space Policy Institute papers available online

Papers presented at the workshop "The Fair and Responsible Use of Space: an International Perspective", held November 20-21 in Vienna, Austria, co-sponsored by the Secure World Foundation are now available online.

The agenda:

SESSION 1: Current Questions regarding Responsible and Fair Use of Outer Space

Space Benefits from Emerging Countries
by: Peter Martinez (South African Astronomical Observatory, South Africa)

Peaceful Use of Outer Space vs. Militarisation: the Cost Benefit Analysis
by: Theresa Hitchens (Center for Defense Information, SWF Consultant)

The Space Environment and Its Impacts
by: Fernand Alby (Centre National d'Études Spatiales, France)

Space Situational Awareness: An Overview (electronic version not available)
by: Giovanni Gasparini (Istituto Affari Internazionali, Italy)


SESSION 2: Fair Rules on Orbit

Data Sharing Issuesby: Wolfgang Rathgeber (ESPI, Austria)

Cooperation within the United Nations
by: Lubos Perek (Czech Academy of Science)

The "Paris Group" and the Way forward
by: Ben Baseley-Walker (Secure World Foundation, USA)

Space Traffic Control: Issues and Options
by: William Ailor (Aerospace Corporation, USA)


SESSION 3: Achieving Global Engagement

Overcoming International Obstacles: Lessons Learnt
by: Xavier Pasco (Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, France)

How to Engage Current and Future Space Actorsby: Driss El Hadani (Centre Royale de Télédétection Spatiale, Marocco)

The Role of International Organizationsby: Kazuto Suzuki (University of Hokkaido, Japan)

Involving the World's Youth
by: Agnieszka Lukasczcyk (Space Generation Advisory Council, SWF Consultant)