SWF hosts ISU "Space and Security Theme Day"

Secure World Foundation hosted a Space and Security Theme Day during this year's International Space University (ISU) Space Studies Program (SSP). The 9-week SSP is held annually and brings together over a hundred participants from dozens of countries to take place in an intense, multidisciplinary space program. This year's SSP is being held in the United States at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountainview, California. Pictured above are, from left to right: Dr. Ray Williamson (SWF), Scott Madry (ISU), Brian Weeden (SWF), Ben Baseley-Walker (SWF), Ariane Cornell (Space Generation Advisory Council), and Rudi Jehn (European Space Agency).

The Theme Day included speakers from SWF, the European Space Agency, the Space Generation Advisory Council, and ISU. The presentations talked about the many definitions of space security, the space environment challenges, using space for human and environmental security on Earth, space weapons, and current international space security initiatives. The Theme Day concluded with a panel discussion taking questions from the audience.

Call for Leadership in Global Space Activities

This week, as the world salutes the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s mission that achieved the first human landing on the Moon, there is also need to reflect on the future of America’s civil space endeavor.

The Secure World Foundation is calling attention to several key findings in a newly issued report by the prestigious National Research Council: America’s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs.

“This report recognizes the fundamental nature of outer space as a global commons that will take robust efforts in international cooperation to assure the sustainability of space activities over the long term,” said Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of Secure World Foundation.

Williamson noted that the new report recognizes that “strategic leadership will be achieved not by dominance…but by example and in cooperation with other nations.”

“This recognition is an important step forward in true U.S. leadership in global space activities. Together, the nations of the world can make enormous progress in expanding our knowledge and use of the space environment. As this report emphasizes, we should find ways to work more effectively with others in those pursuits,” Williamson explained.

New opportunities for space-based endeavors
Phil Smith, SWF’s Communications Director, also points to several key items that are underscored in the new study.

“Beyond international cooperation on civil space programs, the report goes on to recommend that the President of the United States should find a way to streamline government space projects, find out where U.S. space policies come up short, and identify new opportunities for space-based endeavors,” Smith said.

Specific recommendations in the report include several that fall under what Secure World Foundation calls “space governance” - or the use of effective systems of governance to ensure sustainable activities in outer space.

Smith added that there is no reason to limit the recommendations to domestic policy alone; indeed, the nature of space activities generally means international cooperation and coordination is required.

“The report also highlights the need to integrate civil and national security space objectives according to one strategy, clearly a space governance pursuit that would have significant impact to international efforts,” Smith concluded.

Purposeful, strategic U.S. space program
The National Research Council assessment, issued by a blue-ribbon panel of experts under the chairmanship of Lester Lyles, U.S. Air Force (retired) and now consultant came to a central recommendation: The U.S. space program should align with broader U.S. national goals.

Indeed, bringing into line the nation’s space agenda with pressing issues – environmental, economic, and strategic – is a national imperative, and will continue to grow in importance, the report notes.

Coordination across federal agencies, combined with a competent technical work force, effective infrastructure, and investment in technology and innovation, the report observes, would lay the foundation for a purposeful, strategic U.S. space program that would serve national interests.

To read the full NRC report, America’s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs, go here.

U.S. - India Agreements and Achievements

Separately, today, India and the United States signed a Technology Safeguards Agreement and associated side letters pertaining to the use of U.S.-licensed components on spacecraft launched from Indian facilities.

Practically, the agreement will facilitate the launch of U.S.-licensed spacecraft components and safeguard protected technologies and data of both countries. The side letters commit the United States and India to enter into consultations regarding the market for commercial space launch and satellite services.

For State Department URL, go to:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/july/126229.htm

-- Leonard David

SWF Teams with Space Foundation to Discuss Space Weapons in Washington

Secure World Foundation and the Space Foundation co-sponsored a highly successful panel in Washington, DC for Congressional staffers and aerospace industry leaders to discuss a variety of technical, policy, geo-political, and legal considerations regarding space weapons, including the need for "rules of the road" for space operators and for a solid verification mechanism for arms control agreements. SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden, pictured above on the right, was on the panel. Image: Space Foundation.

According to the Space Foundation's website, "The audience comprised primarily Congressional staff, representing the House and the Senate at both an office and a committee level. Other attendees included representatives from a number of major aerospace companies. Space Foundation Vice President - Washington Operations and Government Affairs Brendan Curry moderated a panel featuring: Weeden; Bruce MacDonald, senior director with the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States; and Eric Sterner, a fellow with the George C. Marshall Institute.

"The Numbers Game," by Brian Weeden

Brian Weeden, SWF Technical Advisor, has written an article on satellite catalogs for The Space Review.

"Whenever the topic of space debris and satellites in orbit comes up a lot of numbers tend to get thrown around by a lot of different people, and it can be hard to keep all the figures straight. Compounding this is the superficial knowledge (at best) of the subject by many media commentators and the tradition of secrecy by the US military, the organization that has historically been the main keepers of the data on space debris.

This article attempts to shed some light on this subject and will define in detail exactly what stuff is in orbit, how we know what’s up there, and what a satellite catalog is, as well as highlight a few areas of concern with this entire process. In addition, it will make some suggestions for improving the situation in the near future. This is especially important because, as I learned from G.I. Joe growing up, “knowing is half the battle” and right now the world knows a lot less than half of what it should about the space environment."

Read the full article here.