SWF Statement – UN COPUOS STSC, Exchange of Views: SSA, Space Sustainability, and Global Development (January 2018)

Secure World Foundation presents its activities since June 2017 in support of COPUOS’s Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. Core efforts focused on:

• SSA & Space Debris: Co-hosted the 5th AMOS Dialogue on future scenarios for SSA and STM. Hosted a DC panel on active debris removal (ADR), including technical and legal challenges.
• Youth Engagement: Sponsored travel for young professionals to attend the IAC, Space Generation Congress, and Manfred Lachs Moot Court. Topics included space law, resource utilization, and norms for small satellite behavior.
• UN High-Level Engagements: Presented at the UN High-Level Forum (UAE), UN-GGIM, and GEO-XIV Plenary, linking space applications to the SDGs and promoting integration of citizen science with satellite data.
• Norms & Best Practices: Promoted norms of behavior for CubeSats and small satellites through events at the SmallSat Conference, and led discussions on launch and post-mission disposal practices.
• On-Orbit Servicing Standards (CONFERS): Announced award of a DARPA contract to develop industry-led best practices for on-orbit servicing and proximity operations, through the CONFERS consortium.
• International Presence: Participated in APRSAF-24 in India, presenting on commercial space governance and NGO roles.
• Publications & Thought Leadership: Distributed over 2,600 copies of the Handbook for New Actors in Space and contributed to McGill’s Global Space Governance Study, distributed to all delegations.

SWF concludes by affirming that sustainable and secure use of outer space must be pursued through inclusive, global cooperation.