UKSA & SWF Reporting – Outcomes of the Space Environment Sustainability Assessment (SESA) Study

This document summarizes the findings of the SESA project, led by the UK Space Agency with contributions from the Secure World Foundation and academic partners. The study aimed to explore threshold-based metrics and governance models to assess and manage the sustainability of the space environment. Key outcomes include the evaluation of 38 metrics across risk-severity and network-based models, the development of prototype modeling tools such as NESSY and EMISSARY, and lessons drawn from regulatory analogues in climate change, fisheries, and deep-sea mining. The study also assessed relevant technologies and standards (e.g., ADR, SSA, design tools) and received strong interest during its presentation at the 62nd UN COPUOS STSC. It concludes that a multi-metric, internationally coordinated governance model is vital for preserving the long-term sustainability of outer space.