Growth of Global Space Capabilities Highlighted in Congressional Testimony

Newswise — The international space community is undergoing many significant changes. One of the important -- but often overlooked characteristics of the past decade -- is the rapid emergence of new actors in outer space.

Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of Secure World Foundation (SWF), testified today before the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics in Washington, D.C.

Today’s hearing is titled: “The Growth of Global Space Capabilities: What’s Happening and Why It Matters,” with SWF’s Williamson addressing the importance of emerging space States.

Rationales for entering the space realm
Since 1999, the number of States with space systems in orbit has increased from 27 to 37. Countries as diverse as Algeria, Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela, South Africa and Turkey have now become part of the so-called “space club.”

Eight States are now also capable of launching satellites into orbit. South Korea will likely soon make that a total of nine, Williamson explained. “Countries wish to enter the space realm for a variety of reasons,” he noted, “not least of which is the desire to gain prestige in the international community.”

Rationales include the following, Williamson said, the priority of which varies depending on the needs of the State:

-- Advance scientific and technical capacity

-- Improve the management and use of resources and provide better protection against the ravages of natural disasters.

-- Enhance access to education and health information throughout the country.

-- Improve national security.

-- Advance industrial capacity and the economy.

-- Prestige in the international community.

Orbital security
SWF’s Williamson urged that the United States assist emerging spacefaring countries to develop sound space policies and laws and to help them adhere to international best practices in space activities. He also suggested that the new spacefaring countries provide a powerful platform for using “soft power” – the use of U.S. technological and economic capabilities to influence policymakers in other countries.

Williamson added: "There is an overall need for the United States to develop an overarching space strategy that goes beyond any necessary revisions to U.S. space policy and includes both military, civil, and commercial components."

“Such a strategy would go a long way to clarify the direction of U.S. investments in space science, space applications, the human exploration of outer space, and the nature and scope of U.S. involvement in the international community,” Williamson said.

In the view of the Foundation, Williamson testified, “the United States can improve its own orbital security for commerce, science and national security and gain closer allies within the international community by engaging with the emerging space States."

Dr. Williamson's testimony can be downloaded here.

SWF's Dr. Ray Williamson to Provide Congressional Testimony

From: Secure World Foundation
Subj: House hearing/Thursday, November 19th

Please be advised of a hearing by the Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009

Location
2318 Rayburn House Office Building
10:00AM - 12:00PM

LIVE webcast URL

Hearing: "The Growth of Global Space Capabilities: What’s Happening and Why It Matters" (testimony text from all panel participants will be posted after hearing)

Dr. Ray A. Williamson
Executive Director
Secure World Foundation

Mr. Marty Hauser
Vice President
Washington Operations
Research and Analysis
The Space Foundation

Mr. J.P. Stevens
Vice President
Space Systems
Aerospace Industries Association

Dr. Scott Pace
Director
Space Policy Institute
George Washington University

Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl
Director
European Space Policy Institute

Briefings from CRECTEALC released

A meeting, entitled Space Policy in Latin-America and the Caribbean: Looking to the Future, was held earlier this month at Centro Regional de Enseñanza de Ciencia y Tecnología del Espacio para América Latina y el Caribe (CRECTEALC) to discuss the future of cooperative space programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Secure World Foundation was instrumental in organizing the meeting with CRECTEALC, including development of the agenda and management of the meeting itself.

Below are some of the briefings delivered during the gathering:

"Hacia una Política Espacial de la ONU," CRECTEALC

"Space Policy Essentials: The Need for Consistent Elements and Clear Goals," Dr. Ray Williamson (SWF Executive Director)

"Space Security: The Basis for Responsible Use of Space," Dr. John Logsdon (The George Washington University)

"The International Law of Outer Space and Consequences at the National Level," Dr. Hans von der Dunk (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

"Regional Cooperation in Asia/Pacific Region," Dr. Kazuto Suzuki (Hokkaido University)

"National Space Legislation and the Outer Space Treaties," Dr. Ken Hodgkins (Office of Science and Technology Policy)

USSTRATCOM Commander, General Kevin Chilton, calls for better SSA

General Kevin Chilton, USSTRATCOM Commander, was featured speaker this morning at the Strategic Space Symposium being held in Omaha, Nebraska. SWF Communications Director Phil Smith and SWF Washington Office Director Victoria Samson are in attendance.

Chilton provided what he called his wish list for USSTRATCOM, using the recent Iridium-Cosmos collision as the wake up call enabling support from higher echelons for this wish list.

First on the list is better space situational awareness (SSA) - a commander needs this question asked first in any scenario: "What is the situation?" The military needs more sensors around the globe, especially in the southern hemisphere, and via international cooperation. It also needs to make sure that the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) assets continue to be used for SSA into the future as missile defense evolves. In addition, an effort is needed to make sure data from SSA sensors are better collected and analyzed. This means more effective resources, including manpower. Current assets used for SSA are obsolete and inefficient. Finally, the intelligence community (IC) needs to collect data about space powers much more effectively, and not highlight capabilities after the fact.

Second, the military needs to replace its "gap management" approach to procurement and acquisitions. To much emphasis is placed on efficiencies and not mission assurance. Put another way, Chilton prefers the situation as it was in 1999, when launches supporting constellations were not an "all or nothing" mission. Today, there exists considerable waste when it comes to space asset programs and budgets, and the loss of a launch represents a major blow to capabilities. Better responsive space operations and general procurement policy is required.

Third, Chilton calls for better modeling and simulation for joint, global exercises. Excellent work is being done using these type of tools for lower echelons (training, regional exercises, etc.), but not at the top levels.

Summarizing his wish list at the end, he concluded his remarks with a paraphrased quote from General Patton: "Never tell someone how to do something, but rather what to do. They will always surprise you with their ingenuity."