The Secure World Foundation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Summit Panel: Space Traffic Management Jul 17, 2019

Show notes

The growth in space activities has shifted space traffic management from an academic debate to real-world policy debate, yet there is still significant uncertainty about what it means and how to go about creating a workable regime. Should space traffic management be top-down with a global agreement on rules and standards? Or should it be done from the bottom-up with industry practices enshrined in national regulation? Who decides what the rules are, who they apply to, and how they are enforced? | Moderator: Chris Johnson, SWF Space Law Advisor

Panelists:

Didier Alary, University of Toulouse
Talal Al Kaissi, UAE Space Agency
Ron Lopez, Astroscale U.S.
Jennifer Warren, Lockheed Martin

Summit Panel: The Relationship Between Commercial Space and Counterspace Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

Over the last several years, there has been a growing focus on two different conversations: one about the commercial and economic development of space, and another about the risk of conflict on Earth extending into space. Yet there is often very little dialogue on how these two issues interact and what impact each may have on the other. How might greater geopolitical instability or actual war in space impact commercialization? Can the private sector play a role in deterring space conflict or providing more resilient capabilities? | Moderator: Brian Weeden, SWF Director of Program Planning

Panelists:

Joshua Huminski, Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress
Pam Melroy, Melroy & Hollett Technology Partners
Bhavya Lal, Science and Technology Policy Institute
Doug Loverro, Loverro Consulting
Jeffrey Trauberman, VOX Space

This audio was recorded June 25th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC as part of the Secure World Foundation's Summit for Space Sustainability.

Closing Keynote: Jim Bridenstine Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

Closing Keynote Delivered by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine June 25, 2019 at the Summit for Space Sustainability.

Summit Panel: The Promises and Challenges of New Actors in Space Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

The last decade has seen a surge in new actors entering the space domain. Many more countries are developing space programs and national law and policy while commercial startups are leveraging cheaper and better technology to do more with less. What are the benefits of the surge in new actors and what should we be wary of? What steps can the world take to ensure that new actors are contributing to space sustainability? | Moderator: Ian Christensen, SWF Director of Private Sector Programs

Panelists:

Jim Armor, Northrop Grumman
Simonetta di Pippo, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Kalpak Gude, Swarm
Mark Mozena, Planet
Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Observer Research Foundation

This panel took place June 25, 2019 at the Summit for Space Sustainability in Washington, DC.

Summit Luncheon Keynote: Kevin O'Connell Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

Delivered in on June 25 at the SWF Summit for Space Sustainability in Washington, DC.

Summit Opening and Spotlight Talks Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

This audio was recorded on June 25 during the SWF Summit for Space Sustainability at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

OPENING WELCOME & SWF VISION

Krystal Wilson, SWF Director of Space Applications Programs, Summit Chair

Peter Martinez, SWF Executive Director

SETTING THE STAGE: SPOTLIGHT TALKS

A series of short presentations by high-level experts on current situations, trends, and challenges in the space domain that impact space sustainability.

State of the Space Environment - Holger Krag, European Space Agency
The Globalization of Space - Rogel Mari Sese, Regulus SpaceTech
The Rise and Promise of Commercial Space - Carissa Christensen, Bryce Space & Technology
Militarization and Potential Conflict in Space- Jana Robinson, Prague Security Studies Institute
The Role of Space for Benefits on Earth - Anne Hale Miglarese, Radiant Earth Foundation
Past and Future of Space Governance - Niklas Hedman, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

India's ASAT Test: A Jolt To Space Stability May 15, 2019

Show notes

Recorded in Washington, DC on May 6, 2019

On March 27, 2019, India successfully tested an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon against one of its satellites. With this intercept, India became the fourth country to demonstrate this capability. While most of the debris that was created should be relatively short-lived, some of it will be around for months, if not years.

What does this test mean for the future of space security and stability? Has a precedent been established about how to test an ASAT in a way that the international community will accept? How will this affect international security and great power relationships? Does this test and potentially others like this pose a risk to the burgeoning commercial space sector? A panel of experts gathered in Washington, D.C to discuss potential consequences and fall-out from India's ASAT test.

Speakers:

Moderator: Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation

Panelists:

Bob Hall, Director, Commercial Space Operations Center, AGI
Ankit Panda, Adjunct Senior Fellow in Defense Posture Project, Federation of American Scientists
Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation

More details can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

US-China Engagement in Space Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

This audio was recorded in Washington, DC on March 29, 2019.

On March 29, 2019, The Secure World Foundation hosted a panel discussion on "US-China Engagement in Space." A group of experts talked about how the United States and China interact in space and looked toward future possibilities for further engagement across commercial, civil, and national security issues.

Speakers

Moderator: Victoria Samson, SWF Washington Office Director
Patrick Besha, Senior Policy Advisor for Strategic Engagement and Assessment in the Office of the Administrator at NASA Headquarters
Mike Gold, Chair of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee
Lincoln Hines, PhD candidate in the Government Department at Cornell University,Cornell University
Audrey Schaffer, Director, Space Strategy and Plans, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Brian Weeden, SWF Director of Program Planning

The Future of Space Safety: Keynotes and Panel Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

Recorded in Washington DC, on December 6, 2018.

The orbital space around the earth is increasingly utilized by many actors across the world. Satellites built and launched by governments that strictly served national security and scientific exploration purposes have given way to privately (and even amateur) built and commercially launched space objects. This growth in participation has increased the amount of stakeholders interested in preserving the orbital domain, but it has also increased the amount of satellites and human-generated debris on orbit. As governments, and their myriad agencies, seek to preserve access to the benefits of space, how can collaboration reduce redundancies and avoid the complications of differing definitions, priorities, and data standards?

SWF and ESA co-hosted a luncheon panel discussion on international collaboration concerning space safety. Speakers and panelists discussed the roles of governments and industry, technical hurdles, and other challenges.

Speakers

Keynotes:

Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Director General, European Space Agency
Patrick Besha, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Administrator at NASA Headquarters

Panelists:

Jim Cooper, Senior Systems Engineer, Space Situational Awareness, Analytical Graphics, Inc.
Todd Harrison, Director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project and Defense Budget Analysis
Diane Howard, Professor of Commercial Space Operations/Spaceflight Ops, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Bill Murtagh, Program Coordinator, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Charity Weeden, US Managing Representative, Astroscale
Moderator: Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation

More details can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Space Weather Enterprise Forum: Implementation of Activities Across the Space Weather Enterprise for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure Aug 09, 2018

Show notes

Recorded in Washington DC, on July 25, 2018.

The SWEF brought together the space weather community to share information and ideas among policymakers, senior government leaders, researchers, private-sector service providers, space weather information users, media, and legislators and staff from Capitol Hill to raise awareness of space weather and its effects on society. This year's event sharpened the focus on critical infrastructure protection, with the necessary underpinnings of research, improved products and services, and applications to serve a broad and growing user community. The ultimate goal is to improve the Nation's ability to prepare for, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the potentially devastating impacts of space weather events on our health, economy, and national security.

This recording features an presentations and a panel discussion on research-to-operations activities seeking to address threats from severe space weather.

Speakers

Mr. Steven Clarke, Senior Policy Analyst at the Office of Science and Technology Policy , Executive Office of the President
Dr. Conrad Lautenbacher, Chief Executive Officer, GeoOptics Incorporated and American Commercial Space Weather Association
Dr. Daniel Baker, Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder
Dr. Christopher Cannizzaro, Office of Space and Advanced Technology in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science, U.S. Department of State
Dr. Mizuhhiko Hosokawa, Vice President of National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan
Moderator: Mr. Mike Ryschkewitch, Head, Space Sector at Johns Hopkins University of Applied Physics Laboratory
Closing: Mr. Michael Bonadonna, Executive Secretary, Space Weather Operations Research and Mitigation Subcommittee and Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

More details can be found at the event page on the SWF website.