Forwarding Multilateral Space Governance: Next Steps for the International Community
Forwarding Multilateral Space Governance: Next Steps for the International Community
Loading...
Files
Publication or External Link
Date
2015-08-06
Authors
Hitchens, Theresa
Advisor
Citation
Theresa Hitchens, "Forwarding Multilateral Space Governance: Next Steps for the International Community," CISSM Publication, August 2015.
DRUM DOI
Abstract
Over the past decade, concerns about ensuring sustainability and security in outer space have led
the international community to pursue a range of governance initiatives. Governance issues
regarding the use of space are complicated because of the physical realities of the space
environment and because of the legal status of space as a global resource. As the number of
space users grows and the types of activities in space expand, competition for access to space
will only continue to grow. Different space actors have different priorities and perceptions
regarding space challenges. As more and more militaries around the world turn to space assets,
the potential development of counterspace weapons also increases tensions. Ongoing multilateral
work on space governance has concentrated primarily on voluntary measures. There are
currently three major multilateral governance initiatives in the field. The three—the EU Code of
Conduct, the COPUOS Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space
Activities, and the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on transparency and confidencebuilding
measures—are related to each other, but each aims to address slightly different aspects
of the governance problem. This paper reviews these initiatives and elucidates ways to forward
their progress, for instance, by fully implementing the GGE recommendations, including a
review of implementation of the Outer Space Treaty, the establishment of national focal points
for data exchange, and by fully implementing the UN Registry. It also looks to identify
additional steps beyond current activities at the multilateral level for establishing a foundational
space governance framework, including institutionalizing the UN Space Debris Mitigation
Guidelines; establishing a public space situational awareness database; and examining ways to
move forward discussion on active debris removal, national legal obligations regarding military
activities, and space traffic management.