SWF Statement – UN COPUOS STSC, Agenda Item 3: General Exchange of Views (April 2015)

In this statement, Secure World Foundation introduces its Handbook for New Actors in Space initiative as a strategic response to the rapid diversification and growth in space actors. With more than 70 nations, commercial companies, and international organizations operating over 1,200 satellites, SWF notes the increased risks of space debris, on-orbit crowding, radio frequency interference, and potential geopolitical tensions arising from incidents in orbit.

The handbook aims to serve two primary audiences:

1. States developing national space policies and regulatory frameworks.
2. Non-governmental actors such as startups, universities, and research institutions beginning space activities.

It will provide accessible guidance on legal, policy, and technical norms and best practices to encourage safe, responsible, and peaceful space operations. The statement emphasizes the handbook’s free availability, planned interdisciplinary structure, and inclusion of real-world practices from established actors. SWF invites input from all delegations to ensure broad representation and relevance. The initiative aligns with COPUOS’s work on Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) and seeks to complement those efforts with practical support for new entrants into the space domain.