The Secure World Foundation Podcast

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International Law and Military Activities in Outer Space Mar 24, 2015

Show notes

Recorded March 23, 2015

Although some may consider the two to be at odds with each other, international law has a direct impact on military activities in both peacetime and during conflict. International law defines what constitutes an armed attack, the right to national self-defense, and the limits on use of force during an armed conflict consistent with the Geneva Conventions.

Over the last several decades, legal scholars and military practitioners have clarified the rules of international law applicable to military activities in several domains. This includes the Harvard Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare, and most recently the Tallinn Manual on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare. However, to date there has not been any significant attempts to clarify how international law applies to military activities in space.

The panel discussion provided an overview of international law as it applies to military activities, and examples of how it has been clarified in certain domains, such as air and cyber, or for certain types of weapons, such as autonomous systems. It also examined the current status of international law as applied to military activities in the space domain, and potential benefits of further clarifying the existing norms and interpretations.

Speakers:

Wing Commander Duncan Blake, Royal Australian Air Force

Mr. Gary Brown, Head of Communications, Washington Delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross

Dr. Cassandra Steer, Executive Director, Centre of Research in Air and Space Law, McGill University

Dr. Peter Hays, Adjunct Professor, George Washington University

Moderator: Mr. Brian Weeden, Technical Advisor, Secure World Foundation

Space and the Arctic: Why Space Capabilities Are Important for Sustainable Arctic Development Jan 28, 2015

Show notes

Recorded January 27, 2015

The Arctic region is changing rapidly, allowing for new opportunities to learn more about this remote area, use it to expand economic development, and build off it for national security and political benefits. However, there are challenges involved in ensuring that there is assured access to the Arctic, monitoring the physical changes it is undergoing, using the Arctic in a sustainable manner, and creating a stable environment for a region that could be the site of disputed land claims. Space plays an important role in monitoring conditions in the Arctic and in enabling the management of resources there. Given that the United States will assume the chairmanship of the intergovernmental Arctic Council in April, this panel discussion examined the implications of changing Arctic conditions and how space can help improve understanding of and mitigate the disruption from those changes.

For more information, please visit the event page.

Speakers

Dr. Claire Parkinson, Climate Change Senior Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
CDR Ronald Piret, Arctic Affairs Officer, Task Force Climate Change (TFCC), U.S. Navy
Major Charity Weeden, Assistant Attaché Air & Space Operations, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff Washington
Dr. Amy Sun, Military Space Narrowband Advanced Programs Lead, Lockheed Martin
Mr. Michael J. Young, Arctic Affairs Officer, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Seeing Into Space: Perspectives and Initiatives for Enhancing Space Situational Awareness Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded December 9, 2014

Space situational awareness (SSA) - commonly defined as knowledge about the space environment and activities in space - is an important part of space sustainability, safety, and security. SSA has historically been mostly a military mission that focused on tracking the locations of objects in space and detecting space-based threats. However, the nature of SSA is evolving as the number of actors in space increases, including an increasing proportion of non-governmental players and space activities, and the nature of the threats to active satellites diversifies and expands to include natural and human-generated threats, as well as intentional and unintentional threats.

Secure World Foundation (SWF) held a luncheon panel discussion to discuss the changing nature of SSA and examine initiatives being developed by both the U.S. government and non-governmental entities to enhance SSA.

For more information, please visit the event page.

Panel 1 - Established Services, Providers, and Policies

Mr. Richard Buennneke, Senior Advisor for National Security Space Policy in the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, U.S. Department of State

Mr. John Hill, Principal Director, Space Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense

Mr. Andrew D'Uva, President, Providence Access Company

Panel 2 - Emerging Services, Providers, and Policies

Dr. Michael Romanowski, Director, Commercial Space Integration, Federal Aviation Administration

Mr. Paul Welsh, Vice President of Business Development, Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI)

Mr. Matthew Bold, Chief Architect, Ground Based Space Situational Awareness (GBSSA), Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center

The discussion was be moderated by Mr. Brian Weeden, SWF Technical Advisor.

Monitoring the High Seas: The Increasing Role of Space in Maritime Domain Awareness Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded June 16, 2014

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact security, safety, economy, or environment. Space capabilities are an important element of MDA, including space-based radar imaging and surveillance, ocean temperature and sea ice monitoring, among others. A number of countries are developing space capabilities to support MDA, but there are still significant gaps in coordination and cooperation between these efforts, as well as integrating space-based information with other sources into a holistic MDA picture and getting it to those who need it on the ground in a usable manner. This panel session provided an overview of the importance of MDA and the various efforts to provide space-based capabilities to improve MDA. The session also offered a discussion on opportunities for enhancing international cooperation, both in space and on the ground, to improve MDA for all nations.

For more information, including speaker presentations, please see the event page.

Speakers:

Dr. Bharath Gopalaswamy, Deputy Director, South Asia Center, Atlantic Council

Mr. Jon Huggins, Director of Ocean's Beyond Piracy, One Earth Future Foundation

Dr. John Mittleman, Engineer, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Prof. Guy Thomas, Co-Founder, C-SIGMA Centre

Major Charity Weeden, Assistant Attaché Air and Space Operations, Royal Canadian Air Force

"Gravity" in Real Life: Legal and Political Implications of an Accident in Space Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded December 9, 2013

Inspired by the recent box office hit and cinematic masterpiece, Gravity, Secure World Foundation (SWF) held a panel discussion and luncheon that discussed the various legal, policy, political, and strategic implications of the scenario depicted in director Alfonso Cuarón's celebrated film Gravity and if such an accident in space were to occur in real life. Could such an accident really happen today? What is the real life threat of space debris as compared to that portrayed in the film? Legal issues to be discussed will include what the current international legal regime brings to this scenario and the difficulty of defining space debris, as highlighted by the recently published Guide to Space Law Terms published by SWF and the George Washington University's Space Policy Institute. What would be the political and strategic consequences in the international community? A brief history on anti-satellite (ASAT) programs, as well as the Chinese space station Tiangong, both of which featured prominently in the film, will be covered during the event as well. Finally, what is being done to address such a threat today, especially at the international level?

For more information, including speaker presentations, please visit the event page.

Speakers:

Dr. Henry Hertzfeld, Research Professor of Space Policy and International Affairs, George Washington University, Space Policy Institute

Dr. Darren McKnight, Technical Director, Integrity Applications, Inc.

Mr. Kirk Shireman, Deputy Director, Johnson Space Center, NASA

Ms. Marcia Smith, Founder and Editor, SpacePolicyOnline.com

The discussion will be moderated by Ms. Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation.

Satellite Servicing and Debris Removal: An Assessment of Prospects and Challenges Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded November 4, 2013

On-orbit satellite servicing (OOS) and active debris removal (ADR) are part of an emerging category of future on-orbit activities that are critical for taking the next leap in our use of Earth orbit. The ability to repair or refuel satellites, construct new satellites in orbit, and even remove orbital debris can help drive innovative uses of space and create new possibilities. These activities also raise a host of security, legal, safety, operational, and policy challenges that need to be tackled for this future to be possible.

In 2012, DARPA held a public conference and workshop in Washington, DC, and in 2012 and 2013, SWF worked with partners to hold a series of conferences, workshops, and panel discussions to explore these various multidisciplinary challenges. The events took place in the United States, Belgium, and Singapore and included representation from a variety of international stakeholders. This panel discussion summarizes those events as well as provides "insider and outsider" perspectives on the non-technical challenges that need to be addressed for ADR and OOS to become reality.

Speakers:

Mr. David Barnhart, Project Manager, Tactical Technology Office, DARPA

Mr. Brian Weeden, Technical Advisor, Secure World Foundation

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Michael Simpson, Executive Director, Secure World Foundation.

International Space Reception Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded July 24, 2013

Secure World Foundation (SWF) and the Tauri Group co-hosted an international space reception to bring together the international space policy makers and international space stakeholders within the Beltway. Speakers discussed the U.S. government's priorities for and interests in international space cooperation and outreach; a survey of international space professionals about prioritizing various aspects of space sustainability; and regional space dynamics, looking at national budgets, satellite capabilities, spaceflight, and science missions by region.

For more information, including speaker presentations, please visit the event page.

Speakers

Mr. Frank Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, U.S. Department of State

Ms. Carissa Christensen, Founder and Managing Partner, The Tauri Group

Mr. Brian Weeden, Technical Advisor, Secure World Foundation

Moderator: Ms. Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation

Earth Observation Satellite Data Sharing: Policies and Partnerships Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded July 15, 2013

Secure World Foundation and the Commons Lab of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars co-hosted a panel discussion to examine issues in sharing Earth observation satellite data, including general challenges for data sharing, problems with coordinating data, questions about how the U.S. government makes data policy sharing decisions and how they relate to the larger international context, and overall assessments about the importance of data-sharing and international cooperation. This panel is intended to focus on unclassified data-sharing in a civil context.

For more information, including speaker presentations, visit the event page.

Speakers

Dr. Mariel John Borowitz, Research Analyst, Space Foundation

Dr. Molly Macauley, Vice President of Research and Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future

Dr. Martha Maiden, Program Executive, NASA Earth Science Data Systems

Mr. Timothy Stryker, Chief of Policy, Plans and Analysis, Land Remote Sensing Program, U.S. Geological Survey

Moderator: Ms. Tiffany Chow, Project Manager, Secure World Foundation

Near-Earth Objects: Addressing the Current Threat Level Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded on July 8, 2013

The Secure World Foundation (SWF) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy (CSTSP) hosted a luncheon panel discussion event on Capitol Hill. Given interest sparked by the recent meteor explosion over central Russia, the event will focus on near-Earth objects (NEOs), providing informed and scientific background on the topic for policymakers, current threat status, and an update on international efforts aimed at addressing the NEO threat.

For more information, including speaker presentations, please visit the event page.

Speakers

Dr. Irwin Shapiro, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Dr. Mark Boslough, Principal Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories

Mr. Lindley Johnson, NASA's Headquarters Program Executive for NASA's Near Earth Object Program

Moderator: Ms. Victoria Samson, SWF Washington Office Director

Space Policy Challenges Facing the Second Obama Administration Jan 06, 2015

Show notes

Recorded December 3, 2012

Secure World Foundation held a luncheon panel discussion on significant space policy challenges facing the second Obama Administration, including civil space funding and Congress, ITAR reform, improving space situational awareness, and improving the overall coordination of U.S. space activities.

For more information, please visit the event page.

Speakers

Ms. Marcia Smith, SpacePolicyOnline.com

Ms. Patricia Cooper, Satellite Industry Association

Mr. Brian Weeden, Secure World Foundation

Dr. Eligar Sadeh, Astroconsulting International

Moderator: Dr. Scott Pace, George Washington University