New Agreement Signals Major Shift in International Arms Control and Disarmament Efforts

For the first time in a decade, the international body dedicated to discussing arms control and disarmament unanimously agreed on a program of work today, opening the door to negotiations on nuclear weapons, fissile materials, and space security.
The Conference on Disarmament (CD), located in Geneva, Switzerland, was established in 1979 as the single, international body where multilateral disarmament negotiations take place. It is here, in the grand Palais des Nations on the shores of Lake Geneva that diplomats have hammered out previous treaties banning chemical and biological weapons as well as the comprehensive ban on nuclear testing.

Today’s consensus resolution was the culmination of a long process aimed at returning the Conference to work, a process championed by Ambassador Jazaïry from Algeria during his Presidency of the CD. Secure World Foundation (SWF) Executive Director Dr. Ray Williamson commented, "The return to substantive work is a huge step forward for international diplomacy on arms control and disarmament.”

Another initiative by Ambassador Jazaïry was the session on 28 May in which four non-government organizations (NGOs) were invited to address the CD. Facilitated by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), the event marked the first time an NGO panel has been invited to speak at an informal plenary session of the CD, according to SWF Legal and Policy Advisor Ben Baseley-Walker.

The program of work, document CD 1863, establishes four Working Groups on the topics of nuclear disarmament, control on production of fissile material, prevention of an arms race in outer space and assuring non-nuclear weapon States against the threat or risk of nuclear weapons. Three Special Coordinators were also established, tasked with making recommendations on how the CD should tackle the issues of new types of WMD, comprehensive disarmament, and transparency.

Mr. Baseley-Walker noted that the mood at the conference was one of revitalized international cooperation and commitment to move forward. He added, "Should the Committee choose to invite us, I hope that Secure World Foundation and others can continue to contribute to the thinking of the CD in the spirit of this session, and that the expertise of elements of civil society can help to support the renewed vitality of the Conference."

For more information on space security and international diplomacy, contact the Secure World Foundation:

Phil Smith
Communications Director
Secure World Foundation
Phone: +1 (303) 554-1560
Mobile: +1 (505) 918-6093
Email: psmith@swfound.org

Space Trash is No Joke

by Victoria Samson

The Hubble Space Telescope, once the joke of late-night comedians, has proved to be an invaluable resource in photographing the universe. NASA has undertaken a very expensive mission to send up the Space Shuttle Atlantis in an attempt to extend the telescope’s lifespan so that it can continue to serve its purpose. So imagine how much of a loss it would be if a piece of space debris rammed into it, ending its mission prematurely. It and all the other spacecraft must keep a wary eye out for the hundreds of thousands of pieces of manmade debris that circle our planet.

On May 13, a four-inch piece of space trash passed within 1.7 miles of the Hubble. At its current altitude of 350 miles, this means the two objects were moving at such dizzying speeds that an impact could be catastrophic.

This orbital debris was not, like many other pieces, a cast-off part from an earlier space mission. Instead, it was created in January 2007 when China tested an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon, using one of their ballistic missiles to shoot down an aging Chinese weather satellite. This event, according to Joseph Rouge, head of U.S. National Security Space Office, created debris that “will be around 3,000-4,000 years.”

China certainly was not the first country to test ASAT weapons – the United States and the Soviet Union both held tests during the Cold War – and debris from the last official U.S. ASAT test in 1985 took 19 years to de-orbit and is no longer a threat to satellites. Debris from the Soviet tests is still up there.

The U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) is currently tracking over 19,000 objects. Of these, fewer than 900 are active satellites and another 2,300 are inactive satellites. But this is just the tip of the iceberg: given sensor improvements, the United States could track at least 300,000 more objects that are half an inch and bigger, yet still not be able to monitor everything surrounding our planet. U.S. officials worry that a non-tracked piece of debris may unexpectedly crash into a spacecraft or satellite, wrecking it permanently. What you don’t know apparently can hurt you.

The piece of debris from the Chinese ASAT test that passed so close to the Hubble was tracked and U.S. officials decided that in this particular case, the telescope did not need to be moved. However, in 2008, on five separate occasions other spacecraft had to shift in their orbits in order to avoid colliding with some debris. This requires using up some of the precious fuel that the spacecraft take on their missions, and in many cases interrupting the services and data the satellites provide.

Of course, given the alternative, a shortened lifespan is better than complete annihilation. In February 2009, a U.S. Iridium satellite collided with an inactive Russian communication satellite, creating almost 900 bits of trackable debris (and an unknown number too small to track but still dangerous).

What can be done about this? Ideally, the debris wouldn’t be created at all. The United Nations has endorsed a set of voluntary debris mitigation guidelines presented by a worldwide group of civil space agencies, including NASA. The United States and several other nations are implementing these measures. However, more than 40 different countries currently own or operate satellites so implementation needs to be more widespread. Meanwhile, the United States is working on improving its space situational awareness so that it can continue to monitor and track debris. Finally, abstaining from using destructive ASAT weapons ensures that damaging debris isn’t created that will be around for eons. With over 400 satellites on orbit, the United States stands to lose the most if space becomes a shooting gallery.

Secure World Foundation presents at Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland

Ben Baseley-Walker, Legal and Policy Advisor for Secure World Foundation, presented on the topic of space security to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, Switzerland today.

The presentation, which served as an overview on space security, helped describe what space security is, what it means in the international context, the role it plays in activities of the CD, and how Secure World Foundation addresses the subject.

Baseley-Walker pointed out that the cornerstones of space security are 1) Securing the long‐term sustainability of critical orbital regions for continued beneficial use and 2) Securing freedom of access to and use of space for socioeconomic benefit for all of humanity. Space security has become more prominent in recent years, and the international community should consider organizational proliferation, legal and policy models, and the international political climate when dealing with the subject in a balanced way.

Space security matters because human space activities, military or civil, the space environment needs to be made sustainable in the long-term. Perhaps the most pressing space security issue today is orbital debris. Orbital debris, as it happens, is an apolitical issue, because it does not discriminate among space assets it damages and whose space services it interrupts. In addition, the importance of space as a tool for emerging space States to provide human security to their people cannot be ignored. Space assets support, for example, border security; water and other Earth resource management; military activities; and disaster warning, management, and relief.

Baseley-Walker argues that space security clearly lies within mandate of the CD, specifically in terms of addressing mitigation of potential threats to the world’s use of space through military activities or other means. The key challenge is that because space is so globalised, it is imperative that ALL space actors are engaged and invested in space security initiatives.

According to Reaching Critical Will, "For the first time, the CD hosted an informal NGO panel, with speakers from WILPF, the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, the Secure World Foundation, and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. An informative, interactive discussion followed each presentation with a wide variety of delegates participating. While the current CD president Ambassador Jazaïry noted that this would not constitute a precedent, some of the attending delegations said they hoped it would be a precedent. NGOs would certainly welcome future opportunities to engage with the CD in its work."

His presentation can be downloaded here.

Senate Testimony: U.S. Military Space Programs

For an up-to-date look at U.S. military space programs, take a read of recent testimony provided to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. The May 20, 2009 hearing was titled Military Space Programs in Review of the Defense Authorization Request Fiscal Year 2010 and the Future Years Defense Program.

 Mr. Gary E. Payton
Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs

http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2009/May/Payton%2005-20-09.pdf

 General C. Robert Kehler, USAF Commander, Air Force Space Command

http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2009/May/Kehler%2005-20-09.pdf

 Lieutenant General Larry D. James, USAF Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Force Space Command and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, United States Strategic Command

http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2009/May/James%2005-20-09.pdf

 Vice Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., USN Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communication Networks

http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2009/May/Harris%2005-20-09.pdf

 Cristina T. Chaplain, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management
Government Accountability Office

http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2009/May/Chaplain%2005-20-09.pdf

Compiled by Leonard David

President Obama nominates Charles Bolden as NASA Administrator, Lori Garver as Deputy Administrator

President Obama has nominated Charles Bolden as NASA Administrator and Lori Garver as Deputy Administrator. Bolden is a retired Marine Corps general and former NASA astronaut and Garver was a former NASA Associate Administrator until 2001, having worked since then as a consultant for the space industry. She was also a member of the Obama NASA transition team. Garver is currently an Advisory Committee member for Secure World Foundation.

New Tactical Satellite: On-orbit Checkout Underway

Tactical Satellite-3’s liftoff took place on May 19th from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia.

Boosting the satellite into Earth orbit was a Minotaur 1 rocket, integrated by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC). The Minotaur 1 is a four-stage vehicle, two stages being refurbished Minuteman II stages and the two stages being OSC developed.

The year-long mission of the 880-pound TacSat-3 is to evaluate a suite of payloads that includes:

-- The Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer (ARTEMIS), a hyperspectral imager
-- The Office of Naval Research’s Satellite Communications Package
-- The Space Avionics Experiment, an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) - led experiment featuring the first space-based employment of plug-and-play technology.

This trio of instruments will offer real-time imagery (within 10 minutes of collection), sea-based information transmitted from ocean buoys and plug-and-play avionics to assist the warfighter on the ground.

Program management for TacSat-3 is the AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

By Leonard David

Military Space: "At a Critical Juncture"

Military space is at a critical juncture, noted Cristina T. Chaplain, Director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management for the Government Accountability Office (GAO). She testified May 20 before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Committee on Armed Services in the U.S. Senate.

Chaplain said that there are critical capabilities that are at risk of falling behind their current level of service.

“To best mitigate these circumstances and put future programs on a better path, DOD needs to focus foremost on sustaining current capabilities and preparing for potential gaps. In addition, there is still a looming question of how military and intelligence space activities should be organized and led,” she explained in written testimony.

Estimated costs for major space acquisition programs have increased by about $10.9 billion from initial estimates for fiscal years 2008 through 2013. In several cases, DOD has had to cut back on quantity and capability in the face of escalating costs.

Chaplain noted that, along with the cost increases, many programs are experiencing significant schedule delays -- at least 7 years -- resulting in potential capability gaps in areas such as positioning, navigation, and timing; missile warning; and weather monitoring.

To view Chaplain’s complete testimony, go to:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09705t.pdf

By Leonard David

Satellite Collision: Debris to Remain Hazard for Years

Last February, the collision between two satellites created a mess in Earth orbit.

Lieutenant General Larry James, Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space testified today before a Senate Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

James provided an update on the collision between an inactive Russian Cosmos satellite and an operational Iridium commercial communications spacecraft.

“To date we have cataloged over 940 pieces of debris that resulted from the Iridium/Cosmos collision and there are likely thousands of smaller pieces our sensors can’t track,” James reported. He added that only 18 items of debris have reentered so far in written testimony.

The orbiting leftovers are expected to be circling Earth for decades, James added.

“This debris will slowly decay due to natural forces, but it will remain a hazard to manned and unmanned spaceflight in low Earth orbit, and to satellites transiting that region, for several years,” James explained.

By Leonard David

SWF Leadership Attends Air War College Forum on National Security

Dr. Ray Williamson, SWF’s Executive Director, is attending this week the National Security Forum being held at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

Williamson received and accepted a personal invitation from the Secretary of the Air Force to attend the 56th Annual National Security Forum (NSF) at the Air War College.

The purpose of NSF is to expose influential citizens to senior U.S. and international officers and civilian equivalents in order to engage each other’s ideas and perspectives on Air Force, national and international security issues.

During the week of May 18-22, approximately 130 civilian leaders in business, education and government from all over the U.S. will meet with senior military leaders to explore current and future national security issues facing our nation.

The Forum includes discussion of cybersecurity, the robotics revolution and conflict in the 21st century, diplomacy and security challenges in the broader Middle East, unwrapping the mysteries of Iran, North Korea’s nuclear diplomacy as well as a major address to those attending the Forum by the Honorable Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force.

The Air War College is the senior professional development school in the Air Force officer education system as a part of Air University. It educates selected senior officers to lead at the strategic level in the employment of air and space forces. The curriculum focuses on coalition warfighting and national security issues, with emphasis on the effective employment of aerospace forces in joint and combined combat operations.

Major General Charles Bolden, Jr. expected to be next NASA Administrator

MSNBC is reporting that President Barack Obama will formally announce on Monday the nomination of retired Major General Charles Bolden as the next Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Bolden retired from the Marine Corps in 2004 and was an astronaut from 1981 to 1994. Bolden's name floated to the top of lists for the post beginning in January, only to be dismissed as rumor. NASAWatch is also reporting this news, citing independent sources.

More on Bolden can be found here.

Secure World Foundation tapped for HDNet World Report story

HDNet World Report featured a story Tuesday night on the STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, which successfully launched on Monday, May 11. Phil Smith, Communications Director for Secure World Foundation (SWF), was interviewed by correspondent Greg Dobbs. The first half of the segment detailed the mission of Atlantis and the HST. The second half addressed orbital debris and the concern that this might impact the mission. HDNet contacted SWF to weigh in on the subject. SWF is actively working with partners to establish a regime designed to mitigate orbital debris, an issue that requires significant technical and policy coordination. Photo: Phil Smith shows correspondent Greg Dobbs a chart describing orbital debris concentrations. Courtesy HDNet.

The HST/orbital debris story is the first segment of the episode that aired on Tuesday, May 12. HDNet World Report can be downloaded from iTunes:

1. If you haven't done so already, download iTunes.
2. Go here.
3. In the box halfway down to the search box labeled "Search iTunes store." Type in "HDNet World Report".
4. That will give you an icon for HDNet World Report. Click on it. Look for Episode #55 and download for $1.50.

What Can the World Do About Space Debris? An Urgent Call to Action

Now is the time to reduce the threat to both human spaceflight and satellites from destructive space debris. Photo: Left to right, Nicholas Kasirer (Dean of the McGill Law School), Gerard Brachet and Dr. Ray Williamson (Secure World Foundation Executive Director), courtesy Alejandro Restrepo Marino.

That viewpoint emerged from a major gathering of space experts at the International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris, held May 7-9 at the Faculty of Law, McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

The Congress brought together legal, policy, and technical experts from around the globe, including the U.S., Russia, India, China, Canada, and Europe – a unique gathering of officials to thrash out legal, and technical ideas for the next phase of dealing with the space debris issue.

Critical steps and options
Over the past decade and a half, the world’s major space agencies have been developing a set of orbital debris mitigation guidelines aimed at stemming the creation of new space debris and lessening the impact of existing debris on satellites and human spaceflight. A version of these guidelines was unanimously endorsed by the United Nations in 2008 and several States are in the process of implementing or have already implemented these voluntary measures.

The Congress noted that a critical next step is engaging with the growing number of developing countries that are using satellites to help protect their populations and manage natural resources. While they may not have independent spacefaring capabilities, orbital debris is an area of concern for them and they can contribute meaningfully to the process.

“Space debris is primarily a global issue. Global problems need globally solutions, which must be effectively implemented internationally as well as nationally,” said McGill University’s Ram Jakhu, Chair of the Congress.

“Tackling the difficult issue of mitigating the destructive effects of space debris requires the attention of experts versed in the legal, policy, and technical and scientific aspects of space debris,” said Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of Secure World Foundation.

“This interdisciplinary Congress illuminated many of the most difficult and thorny issues inherent in tackling space debris problems and provided some important suggestions on a way forward,” Williamson said.

To this end, the Congress explored a variety of legal options for further implementation of debris mitigation guidelines. One possibility mentioned is the establishment of an international regime for dealing with orbital debris similar to the Missile Technology Control Regime, or perhaps the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963. There are a variety of other means within international law as well, including codes, declarations and treaties.

Next phase of debris mitigation
Up until now, the debris mitigation process has been focused mainly on the technical aspects, with an enormous amount of research producing excellent recommendations, noted Brian Weeden, Technical Consultant for the Secure World Foundation.

“However, the community is now starting to focus on the legal aspect, which is critical for broadening and strengthening the adoption of debris mitigation guidelines and space safety in general,” Weeden said.

Weeden explained that the recent Congress explored lessons from terrestrial environmental pollution law as well as maritime law that could be applicable to outer space. Furthermore, international law isn’t necessarily the only method for implementing the guidelines. “We are also looking at a variety of other mechanisms, to include economics and industrial standards,” he said.

Emerging consensus
There was definite consensus from the gathering on the importance of Space Situational Awareness for all space actors, as a means of learning more about the space debris problem and how to tackle it. Many also believed that any international space debris regime also needs to be developed with an eye to the future and an eventual international space traffic control system.

The discussion of orbital debris doesn’t stop with the McGill Congress.

Planning for a second workshop at the University of Cologne in May 2010 is already underway. Sponsored by the German government, this follow-on event will take the inputs and discussions from the McGill Congress and generate specific policy, legal and technical recommendations for the next phase of dealing with debris mitigation.

Additionally, researchers are moving towards the next phase of scientific study. “There is an emerging consensus among the technical community that simply preventing creation of new debris is not going to be enough,” Weeden emphasized.

“At some point we will need to actively remove debris from orbit. Fortunately, new studies are showing that removing as few as five or six objects per year could stabilize the debris population over the long term. The big question right now is which objects to remove first and what is the best method to do so.”

Event information
The International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris was co-organized by the McGill University Institute of Air and Space Law, Montreal, Canada; the Cologne University Institute of Air and Space Law in Cologne, Germany; and the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety in Katwijk, the Netherlands.

This impressive gathering of experts was co-sponsored by the Erin J. C. Arsenault Trust and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna, Austria. Erin Arsenault is the daughter of Secure World Foundation founders, Cynda and Marcel Arsenault.

McGill International Interdisciplinary Space Debris Congress Wrap-up

Thanks to Brian Weeden, Secure World Foundation Technical Consultan, for the bulk of this write-up.

The International Interdisciplinary Space Debris Congress held at McGill University in Montreal, Canada has concluded. This was an event primarily put together by Dr. Ram Jaku of the McGill School of Air and Space Law with funding support from the Erin Arsenault Trust. Brian Weeden and Ben Baseley-Walker of Secure World Foundation had significant input into the agenda and objectives for the event. The event, attended by between 50 and 75 legal and technical professionals, was devised as the first part of a two-phase project, with part two being hosted at the University of Cologne in May 2010. The Cologne workshop will include a smaller list of participants and focus on drafting a set of legal, policy, and technical recommendations for moving forward on the space debris mitigation issue.

First Session
The first session was chaired by Lubos Perek of the Czech Republic and represented a summary of current knowledge on space debris from both a legal and technical aspect. Fernand Alby, representing France’s Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) gave a summary of the amount of debris currently on orbit, the danger to satellites, and the re-entry issue. Rudi Jehn of the European Space Agency (ESA) followed with a talk on how we detect and observe space debris using the US Space Surveillance Network (SSN), some European sensors, and the International Scientific Optical observation Network (ISON), highlighting areas where there are tracking shortfalls. This was followed by Darius Nikanpour of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) who talked about space debris mitigation technologies, from spacecraft design to satellite on-orbit and end of life practices. Finally, Stephan Hobe of the University of Cologne Space Law program in Germany presented a legal analysis of how current space and international law applies to space debris. He focused on the issue of the legal definition of space debris, the potential illegality of debris creation and obligation to prevent and minimize debris, and the legality of removal and recycling of space debris.

Second Session
The second session was chaired by Richard Tremayne-Smith and focused on an analysis of the voluntary debris mitigation guidelines developed by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and endorsed by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) from both a technical and legal perspective. Niklas Hedman of the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) gave a talk on the IADC and UN COPOUS process and how that shaped the design of the guidelines. Stephan Hobe discussed potential legal issues in establishing national regulations for implementation. David Wright of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) finished up the session with an interesting analysis of the history of intentional and unintentional collisions and what the wartime destruction of a US spy satellite by a Chinese anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon might look like (a scenario that generated about three to five times as much debris as the ASAT/FY-1C event of January 2007).

Third Session
The third session was chaired by Jeff Foust of Futron Corporation and focused on current implantation of the IADC/UN COPOUS debris mitigation guidelines by various States. US Air Force (USAF) Major Mike Taylor of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) talked about how the USAF was implementing them through regulations and policy, which is considered national “soft law” (as opposed to codes and statutes which are “hard law”), and a bit about the role of the Commercial and Foreign Entities (CFE) program in this regard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was represented by Laura Montgomery, who gave a talk about the FAA role in inserting debris mitigation guidelines into licensing requirements. The primary issue here is that the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) only has jurisdiction over the launch and re-entry phases and not explicitly over the on-orbit phase. Carsten Weidemann (Germany’s IADC group) outlined the long-term impacts of both tracked and untracked debris on satellites and showed some initial cost estimates and returns for various levels of IADC debris mitigation guidelines implementation – the level 2 guidelines started to payoff in 2041.

K R S Murthi from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) provided an overview of ISRO activities and how it is implementing the debris guidelines. He mentioned that India has made a policy decision not to have any intentional breakups and that India does support discussion of a future international treaty on space debris. Jiehan Feng of China’s Wuhan University gave a legal overview of China’s regulatory situation and how they are looking to implement the guidelines. In particular, she pointed out that China is looking to harmonize its national space launch and regulations and increase the internal coordination between government departments. Michael Yakolev (ROSCOSMOS) talked about Russian implementation, the most recent example of which was a national law mandating debris mitigation which came into force in January 2009. He also talked a bit about the Russian center that does conjunction analysis and highlighted the need for transparency. Finally, Hugues Gilbert (CSA) talked about Canadian implementation, particularly the new Canadian Remote Sensing Space Systems Act.

Fourth Session
This session, chaired by Secure World Foundation (SWF) Executive Director Dr. Ray Williamson, focused on the various implementation strategies beyond those that were currently being used. The first talk was by Adigun Ade of Nigeria who provided the developing country perspective. He highlighted the need to get the developing countries involved in the process, since it is important to them from a safety (re-entering space debris) and security (their space assets) standpoint. Most significantly, he talked about the need to invest in knowledge and science in developing countries so they could contribute meaningfully to the discussion. Wade Huntley of the Canadian-based Simons Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research followed with a talk on the differences in perspective between great powers and developing countries and how including the latter could help shift the debate on space away from nationalistic tendencies towards cooperation.

Ram Jakhu from the McGill Law School then discussed the various levels of international law, starting with voluntary guidelines at the least strict end and a multilateral treaty with verification mechanisms on the high end. Within this spectrum, he talked about how the space debris mitigation guidelines might fit well in a system like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR) or even the Limited Test Ban Treaty. Intelsat’s Richard Dalbello gave the commercial perspective on the issue, talking about the need for agreement on radiofrequency issues as well as debris. He said that the decisions we make in the next 5-10 years will have huge implications for the future and strongly advocated making every satellite a sensor and some level of space traffic management.

Tommasso Sgobba (International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety) gave the non-governmental organization (NGO) perspective on the situation. He talked about other issues of space safety such as the threat to air traffic and toxic pollution. In particular, he mentioned that the Columbia disaster created a curtain of falling debris across a large part of the US that created a 1 in 1,000 collision hazard for air traffic. He felt strongly that space debris needed to be part of a larger space safety regime and that a lightweight international organization was needed to manage and oversee adoption.

Dave Finkelman from the Center for Space Standards and Innovation (CSSI) discussed ISO (International Organization for Standardization) processes and industrial standards. He emphasized that unless the guidelines were validated, verifiable, enforced and had demonstrated sufficiency they were mostly worthless. In particular, he talked about the need for international industrial consensus on this and especially a focus on safety focus in the orbit and constellation design phase. Xavier Pasco (Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique) talked about how European policy on space security is developing. Space is seen as an element of the security of the European citizen, and that space is seen as a way of doing soft power projection at a time when it is difficult to get agreement on an overall European security and defense policy. Finally, Rudi Jehn (ESA) spoke again on the re-orbit situation. In 2008, only seven of the 12 satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) that failed were re-orbited safely in accordance with the guidelines and that less than 400 of the 1,200 trackable objects near the GEO belt were active satellites.

Fifth Session
This session, chaired by Claudio Portelli (ESA) focused on complementary regimes and initiatives that could work well with the UN COPOUS debris mitigation guidelines. Technical Consultant Brian Weeden (SWF) gave a presentation on international civil space situational awareness (ICSSA). This was followed by Luca del Monte (ESA) who gave a talk on the European SSA initiative, in particular how they were making progress on a governance model and data sharing policy. Maria Buzdugan of Milbank Insurance talked about the issue from a space insurer’s perspective and how the insurance industry is starting to think differently about space debris. However, for the time being it is still a small fraction of the overall risk to satellites. She also mentioned that every satellite insurance policy has exclusion for destruction or damage due to an ASAT attack as well as damage or destruction from a collision with a piece of debris from an ASAT attack. Also, since the debris mitigation guidelines are becoming standardized, non-compliance may be seen as fault for any damage resulting from not complying. Finally, Bill Ailor (The Aerospace Corporation) talked about space traffic management and re-iterated his proposal for an international non-profit being setup to handle this.

Sixth Session
Chaired by Paul Dempsey of McGill University featured all the session chairs giving wrap-ups of their sessions along with a speech by Ciro Arevalo, Chairman of COPUOS. There was then an extended discussion with comments and input from much of the audience on where to go from here. Several big issues were highlighted:

1) The need to find a way to involve the developing world in the process in a meaningful and constructive way, and to expand implementation in a realistic way beyond the space faring States.
2) The role and development of regional mechanisms to overcome the lack of national mechanisms in non-space faring nations and the need to avoid fragmentation of multiple efforts.
3) Analysis and discussion of the right level of international law as the next step in space debris mitigation, and whether or not it should be part of a larger space safety regime. Should there be one big regime or agreement, or multiple overlapping ones at different levels?
4) The role and mechanism for involving commercial operators as partners with governments in this process.
5) Making sure the debris mitigation guidelines are validated, verifiable, enforced and have demonstrated sufficiency for solving the problem.
6) How do we future proof any space debris regime by adding in links to SSA and future STM regimes?
7) What is the research plan for active debris removal, something that everyone agrees is going to become necessary?
8) What is the role that space safety plays in the overall context of global human and environmental security? Can we continue to treat space as separate from overall security issues?

Keeping the Space Environment Safe for Civil and Commercial Users

A hearing of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the House Science and Technology Committee, "Keeping the Space Environment Safe for Civil and Commercial Users," took place on April 29, 2009. The event took place at 2318 Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC.

The hearing was chaired by Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). Witnesses included Larry D. James, Commander of 14th Air Force and the Joint Functional Command for Space at the U.S. Strategic Command; Nicholas Johnson, Chief Scientist for Orbital Debris at NASA; Richard DalBello, Vice President of Government Relations at Intelsat; and Scott Pace, Director of the Space Policy Institute at The George Washington University.

The full transcript of the hearing can be accessed here.

Secure World Foundation participating in the International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris

Secure World Foundation is participating in the International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris being held at McGill University in Montreal, Canada May 6-7. Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of SWF, provided opening remarks while Brian Weeden, SWF's Technical Consultant, will record precedings on a panel providing a summary of current knowledge on the space debris problem from both a technical and legal perspective and will present a paper on civil space situational awareness the following day. The event is sponsored by the Erin J. C. Arsenault Trust and co-organized by the McGill University Institute of Air and Space Law, the Cologne University Institute of Air and Space Law (Cologne, Germany) and the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (Katwijk, the Netherlands). Image: McGill.

The objectives of the event are:
-- To assess the value of the UN COPUOS Guidelines
-- To assess current efforts to implement the UN COPUOS Guidelines
-- To examine further legal, organizational and technical foundations and endeavours for possible national, regional, and international implementation and to assess whether they could be complementary to the UN COPUOS Guidelines
-- To put forward specific and viable policy and regulatory steps (mechanisms) that may be considered by states and other stake holders to monitor and reduce the space debris risks

A program complete with backgrounder can be found here. More details on this event will be posted in this blog in the coming days.

Presentations from "Near Earth Objects: Risks and Opportunities" now online

Presentations from "Near Earth Objects: Risks and Opportunities," held April 23-24, 2009 at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and co-sponsored by the UNL Space and Telecommunications Law Department, Secure World Foundation, the American Branch of the International Law Association and the Association of Space Explorers, are now online. You can check them out in our NEOs Articles, papers and briefings page or at the UNL Space and Telecom Law page.

Space debris – a growing concern

Victoria Samson, Director of Washington Operations at Secure World Foundation, has written a piece on orbital debris for Nieman Watchdog. The article, entitled "Space debris - a growing concern" is designed to help journalists interested in writing about the subject of orbital debris, using a question and answer format.

Questions answered include:

1. Can debris be created intentionally?
2. How can we ensure the long term sustainability of outer space?
3. What is the White House’s policy regarding debris mitigation?

Rideau Institute releases report on the state of Canada's space sector

In a newly issued report on the state of Canada's space sector, analysts, industry leaders and experts are cautiously optimistic about the state of the space sector in Canada, but are watching the deteriorating state of the economy warily.

"The increased focus of the federal government on space over the past year has led to some positive developments in the space sector," said Anthony Salloum, Program Director of the Rideau Institute and Canadian Consultant to Secure World Foundation.
"Attention is now focused on the anticipated release of the federal space strategy by the Canadian Space Agency," Salloum said.

"Recent events in the Canadian space sector have raised the sector's profile, so much so that it was highlighted in the 2009 federal budget," said David Macdonald, economist with the Rideau Institute and author of the report issued by the organization. "However, the federal government's spending has not reversed Canada’s decline in relative space spending compared to other G8 countries. More forward-looking policy changes will be necessary to get Canada back in the game," Macdonald added.

The Rideau Institute noted in their assessment – Looking Up: A Report on the State of Canada’s Space Sector – the following:
-- The $110 million increase in funding for the Canadian Space Agency in Budget 2009 is positive, but the new spending does not alter long-term funding concerns.
-- The space sector may be affected by the economic downturn, although prospects for 2009 are generally favorable.
-- Anticipation is high for the forthcoming Canadian Space Agency strategic plan.
-- Industry tends to support a continued "niche" approach to space technology, while others favor more high-profile projects.
-- Some stakeholders still see the need for an overarching space policy, although it may be out of reach for the moment.

Unique opportunity
"Space can be used as a tool to create jobs, inspire future generations, and increase human and environmental security around the world. On this issue, Canada has a unique opportunity to continue to play a significant role as both a technological and political leader in the global community," said Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of Secure World Foundation.

"Given the current economic climate facing Canada and the world, time is of the essence," added Salloum. "A strategic plan by the CSA coupled with a new overarching and forward-thinking space policy would be welcomed, given the dependence of our economy on space-based technology."

Space arms control language from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States

The final report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States has been released. The Executive Summary is available here.

Excerpts from the report of particular interest to Secure World Foundation:

On space arms control:
"As part of its work, the Commission surveyed other arms control issues. Two further proposed measures require discussion here. The first is arms control in space. Russia and China are keenly interested in such control, not least because they hope that such measures can be used to limit U.S. missile defenses. The Bush Administration took a strong stance against it. This is an issue that will not disappear. The strong dependence of U.S. conventional military forces on space-based communications and sensors makes this an issue of great and continuing importance. There are other serious civilian issues such as space situational awareness, space debris, and space traffic management [emphasis added] that could be used to develop international discussion and working relationships.

The actual promise of space arms control is unclear. In the Commission’s view, the United States should seriously study these issues and prepare to lead an international debate about how to craft a control regime in space [emphasis added] that serves its national security interests and the broader interests of the international community."

With related recommendations:
-- Develop and pursue options for advancing U.S. interests in stability in outer space and in increasing warning and decision-time. The options should include the possibility of negotiated measures.

-- Take the lead in renewing strategic dialogue with a broad set of states interested in strategic stability, including not just Russia and China but also U.S. allies in both Europe and Asia.

Michael Krepon, Co-Founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center, presents on space security

Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center, spoke on the subject of space security during this month's installment of the Space Security Lunch Series. The lunch series is co-sponsored by Secure World Foundation and the Aerospace Law and Policy Association at the University of Colorado Law School.

Krepon began his talk with a brief description of our dependence on space-based services, introducing how space weapons fundamentally threaten these services. He pointed out that various efforts have been undertaken to prevent the weaponization of space, some of which were or are extensions of existing approaches like nuclear deterrence. Other efforts currently under way include civil space situational awareness, in which data about location and movement of satellites is shared via a common data center using standardized data.

According to Krepon, there are three ways to address a specific form of space weapons, anti-satellite (ASAT) systems: Counter systems depending on a force projection or space dominance perspective, a treaty banning all space weapons, or a space code of conduct (or "rules of the road"). ASATs, by the way, include nuclear bombs, kinetic kill payloads and systems designed to temporarily disable a satellite. The latter is the approach considered most desirable by the U.S. Department of Defense. However, none of these options is ideal in terms of dealing with space weaponization.

The U.S. and Soviet Union have already banned nuclear detonations in space per a 1963 treaty following the destruction of several satellites after a exoatmospheric nuclear test. Further, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 bans nuclear weapons in space, along with other weapons of mass destruction. In terms of using a treaty to ban space weapons outright, this approach has not been popular with the United States because a treaty is designed to limit behavior, and from the standpoint of national security this means compromising flexibility when it comes to responding to threats. This is especially true of the U.S. adheres to such a treaty but another party does not. There are generally two kinds of treaties in this regard: a type designed to prohibit all dedicated space weapons and another designed to prohibit all destructive activities against space assets. This latter form is perhaps the most likely of the two to be pursued, as it is more verifiable and also includes the mitigation of orbital debris. Still, treaties are the "toughest rules" to implement, according to Krepon, and are very difficult to negotiate not just on the international level but also at the level of national ratification.

Instead, Krepon suggests a code of conduct, which is a flexible tool that can be implemented more quickly than a treaty and is less formal. In addition, other codes of conduct, such as those used by military services, aviators and sailors, can inform a space code of conduct. A code, for example, can include mechanisms for confidence and security-building measures (CSBMs) designed to remove misunderstandings and unilateral decisions by States. It can also include orbital debris mitigation guidelines, such as those already endorsed by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

Krepon suggested such a code could be endorsed by a space power like the United States via an Executive Decision by the President, but that such a move has questionable legal relevance (laws are not made by the Executive Branch, but rather the Legislative Branch, the Congress). It is possible, however, for Executive Decisions to be made into law by a simple majority in both houses of Congress. Still, it is an option to consider, and one that is not entirely unreasonable given President Barack Obama's campaign promise to pursue a comprehensive space policy that generically supports a "rules of the road" for space.

Secure World Foundation thanks Mr. Krepon for taking time out of his busy schedule to discuss this important subject.

New report by Council on Foreign Relations calls for ban on anti-satellite weapons

The Council on Foreign Relations has issued a Task Force report, titled U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy, which focuses on "near-term policies to reduce nuclear weapons to the lowest possible level consistent with maintaining a credible deterrent, while also ensuring that the U.S. nuclear arsenal is safe, secure, and reliable for as long as it is needed." The report also calls for a ban on anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons.

On page 4 of the Executive Summary, "The report proposes a ban on the testing of antisatellite weapons, which should include Russia and eventually be globally applicable." In the main text of the report, however, "kinetic ASATs" are specifically mentioned.

The Task Force was chaired by William J. Perry (Professor, Stanford University), Brent Scowcroft (Resident Trustee, The Forum for International Policy) and was directed by Charles D. Ferguson (Philip D. Reed Senior Fellow for Science and Technology). Membership included a broad selection of well-respected experts (list available from link above).

Eilene Galloway, "Grand Matriarch of Space Law," passes away at 103

Eilene Galloway, a key contributor to the birth of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and leading figure in the development of space policy and law, passed away on May 2, 2009 just shy of her 103rd birthday. Image: NASA.

Born in 1906, Galloway began work with the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress in 1941 until her retirement in 1975. She authored many House and Senate documents including a report on "Guided Missiles in Foreign Countries," released just before the Soviets launched Sputnik in October 1957.

She became one of Washington's most influential space experts beginning in 1957, when she helped shape the creation of NASA. That year, aware of Galloway's report on guided missiles, then-U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson asked her to help with Congressional hearings that led to the creation of NASA. She was ultimately appointed special consultant to the Senate Special Committee on Space and Astronautics in 1958. This was coincident with her employment at CRS. Galloway recalls: "The only thing I knew about outer space at that time was that the cow had jumped over the Moon."

Galloway helped write the legislation that created the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which in turn led to the birth of NASA on October 1, 1958. Her work emphasized international cooperation and peaceful exploration. She went on to support nine NASA Advisory Committees as a special consultant. Photo: Eilene with President Johnson and Glen Wilson at right and an unidentified man at left. Image courtesy of NASA.

She also contributed to the establishment of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), and was a founding member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), among countless other accomplishments. She attended COPUOS meetings on behalf of the Senate Special Committee on Space and Astronautics, contributing to the drafting of treaties governing the exploration and uses of outer space. She would later represent IISL at COPUOS and it was during this time that she helped launch the field of space law. According to her obituary, in the May 15, 2006 Congressional Record, in honor of her 100th birthday, Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN), chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, called Dr. Galloway "an influential force in the development and analysis of domestic and international space law and policy."

From 1966 to 1975 she was a senior specialist in international relations focusing on national security for CRS, contributed as special consultant to both the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences (from 1958 to 1977) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (1977 to 1982).

In her words, written two years ago, she made this observation about the launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957:

"While our first reaction was that we faced a military problem of technology inferiority, the testimony from scientists and engineers convinced us that outer space had been opened as a new environment and that it could be used worldwide for peaceful uses of benefit to all humankind, for communications, navigation, meteorology and other purposes. Use of space was not confined to military activities. It was remarkable that this possibility became evident so soon after Sputnik and its significance cannot be understated. The problem became one of maintaining peace rather than preparing the United States to meet the threat of using outer space for war. Fear of war changed to hope for peace."