About Us

About Us

The Secure World Foundation (SWF) is a private operating foundation dedicated to maintaining the secure and sustainable use of space for the benefit of Earth and all its peoples. SWF engages with academics, policy makers, industry, scientists and advocates in the space and international affairs communities to support steps that strengthen space security. We promote cooperative efforts to foster:

• Improved peace and security here on Earth
• Improved human security through the use of space services for development, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and environmental protection.

The Foundation acts as a research body, convener and facilitator to advocate for key space security and other space related topics and to examine their influence on governance and international development.

The Foundation was granted observer status to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outers Space (COPUOS) in June 2008. Read our statement here and see our presentation here.  The Foundation also chairs the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Space Security Committee, which explores space security issues in the broader space community.

The benefits of space activities

Over the past two decades, the benefits that space activities provide humanity have improved and increased to the point that they are becoming indispensible for human security. Such benefits include telecommunications, enhanced warnings of destructive storms and other natural hazards, support in recovery activities, agricultural planning and natural resource protection. Navigation, banking transactions and weather forecasts, among other services, are all enhanced by space systems.

The problem

Space is a fragile environment that is at risk of becoming so congested that its utility may be lost to humanity. However, no comprehensive regime has been developed for outer space that protects space systems in orbit from harm. Dangers include hostile actions from State or non-State actors, growth of orbital debris and accidental spacecraft collisions.

The lack of norms, institutional structures, and legal framework for space has led some governments to look to a military approach for protection of space systems. This approach puts us at risk for an unnecessary and costly arms race in space as well as jeopardizing the benefits we receive from space.

The opportunity

As the benefits of space activities expand and improve, keeping outer space available for peaceful activities and free of destructive weapons will become ever more important. At this point, just a half century after the inauguration of the space age, we have a unique opportunity to safeguard the secure and sustainable use of the space environment. Never before has humanity been so interconnected with the technology and capabilities to plan new space systems. The stage is set to design and implement comprehensive new international cooperative institutions and agreements that will provide a secure future for space and benefit for the Earth.

Our Vision

Secure World Foundation envisions secure, sustainable and peaceful uses of outer space made possible by efficient and effective global systems of governance.

Our Mission

Secure World Foundation works with governments, industry and civil society to identify, develop and promote ideas and actions necessary for achieving the secure, sustainable and peaceful use of outer space.

Our Themes

The Foundation approaches space governance by addressing three themes: Space security, human and environmental security and planetary defense.

Space Security: Developing the foundation for the effective management of space operations. Within this theme, the Foundation focuses on civil space situational awareness, space traffic management, mitigation of orbital debris and the avoidance of a space arms race.  

Human and Environmental Security: Maximizing the global cooperative use of space assets for humanity. Within this theme, the Foundation focuses on cooperative Earth observation (EO) and the global sharing of EO data.

Planetary Defense: Promoting a unified policy approach to protection of our planet. Within this theme, the Foundation focuses on global policies to govern how we detect, track and deflect near Earth objects (NEOs).