Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Professor Pascale Ehrenfreund Presides 45th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Busan

August 20, 2024August 20, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

COSPAR 2024: Team Spirit in Space Research

In her role as President of the Committee on Space Research, Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund attended the 45 th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Busan, Korea, held from 13 to 21 July. This prestigious event brought together more than 3,000 experts and leaders from 55 countries in all major fields of space science, under the theme “Team Spirit in Space Research”. COSPAR’s biennial Scientific Assembly, actively supported by major space organizations, is a benchmark for fostering dialogue and collaboration within the global space science community. Of particular note this time was the showcasing of the newly-formed Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), with the participation of Youngbin Yoon, Administrator of KASA, in the Opening Ceremony Roundtable. Youngbin Yoon shared his vision of the future of space activity in Korea, and the discussions on the next decade of space science programs from each agency was a highlight of the Assembly.

For the first time ever, COSPAR brought together space leaders from KASA, NASA, China National Space Administration, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science/Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), and the UAE Space Agency. Another significant highlight of this Assembly was the introduction of COSPAR’s new community-driven Space-Weather Roadmap (https://iswat-cospar.org/). Presented by a consortium of hundreds of scientists led by COSPAR’s Panel on Space Weather, this roadmap provides key recommendations for the global space weather community. Space sustainability gained traction as a major recurring theme, underscoring our collective responsibility to ensure the long-term viability of space activities. The COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection, a reference in upholding the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and providing accepted guidelines on planetary protection, presented the recently updated Planetary Protection Policy. COSPAR 2024 underscored COSPAR’s commitment to international regional diversity and dedication to shaping the future of the global space eco-system.

SPI Director Scott Pace Participated in US Delegation to UN COPUOS in Vienna

June 27, 2024June 27, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace attended the annual meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna on June 19-29. Dr. Pace was part of the United States delegation to COPUOS.

You can find a full list of statements delivered by the US delegation at the following link: https://vienna.usmission.gov/the-usa-at-the-67th-session-of-the-un-committee-on-the-peaceful-uses-of-outer-space-june-2024/

SPI Director Scott Pace Interviewed by PwC Japan

June 27, 2024June 27, 2024News, SPI Quoted in Media, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace recently offered an interview to PwC Japan, speaking about past and current US space policies, US-Japanese relations in space, and his time at the White House.

You can access the full interview at the link below until October 31st, 2024.

https://vimeo.com/user114259289/review/957677532/56f940becb

SPI Alumna Hannah Browne Spoke at UN COPUOS

June 27, 2024June 27, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI alumna Hannah Browne spoke on behalf of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the latest meeting of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) in Vienna on June 23rd.

SPI Director Scott Pace Part of Panel Discussion in Humans to Mars Summit 2024

May 23, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Director Professor Scott Pace took part in a panel discussion on the topic of Chinese space exploration, titled “When Will China Send Humans to the Moon and Mars?”.

The panel took place in the second day of the Humans to Mars Summit 2024, organized by Explore Mars and hosted at the George Washington University in May 2024.

You can follow the entire discussion below:

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace Participates in UN Working Group “Dynamic Coalition on the Interplanetary Internet”

May 8, 2024May 8, 2024Awards & Promotions, News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace will participate in the Dynamic Coalition on the Interplanetary Internet (DC-Interplanetary), a working group which will assemble during the next UN Internet Governance Forum meeting in Saudi Arabia.

The United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) serves to bring people together from various stakeholder groups in discussions on digital public policy. While it does not produce negotiated outcomes, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors. As a year-round process, the IGF includes policy, outreach, and community and capacity-building activities, all dedicated to facilitating a common understanding of how to maximise digital opportunities and address digital risks and challenges. IGF intersessional work culminates in annual meetings, where delegates discuss current and critical issues, share good practices and exchange policy recommendations with one another. The IGF’s resulting outputs are transmitted to global and national decision-making bodies.

The Interplanetary Networking Special Interest Group (IPNSIG) envisions a common network environment even in space will empower science, exploration and commercialization activities which will all become a benefit for humanity. This suggests a need for a governance ecosystem toward the establishment, operation and use of the Interplanetary Internet. In 2023, IPNSIG released a report laying out recommendations on governance of how the Interplanetary Internet ecosystem can be realized which can be used as a basis for future discussions at the “Dynamic Coalition on the Interplanetary Internet”.

SPI Research Professor Dr. Henry Hertzfeld Presented at UNCOPUOS

April 23, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Research Professor Dr. Henry Hertzfeld was part of the US delegation to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Dr. Hertzfeld presented key issues of liability in outer space during the meeting of the UNCOPUOS Legal Subcommittee in Vienna.

You can find the full presentation here: Liability in Outer Space, a Cross-Cutting Problem

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace Participated in Geospatial World Panel Discussion

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace was invited to be part of a panel discussion on the topic of space sovereignty and security. The panel was moderated by Mr. Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, and also featured Amb. Syed Akbaruddin, now Dean of the Kautilya School of Public Policy.

You can find the entire virtual discussion below:

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace Discussed Orbital Debris Mitigation Guidelines at the FCC

March 4, 2024March 6, 2024News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace was invited by the FCC to offer his insights as part of a distinguished pannel of experts on February 29th. The special event was organized by FCC’s Space Bureau and titled ‘20 Years of Orbital Debris Mitigation’ Open House.

Please find the full discussion available below.

SPI Attends International Astronautical Congress 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan

October 10, 2023October 16, 2023Authored Articles and Conference Papers, News, Testimony, Presentations and Panel Appearances

SPI was well represented at the 74th International Astronautical Congress, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The IAC is the premier annual event where global space actors gather, and attracts more than 6,000 participants each year, representing a myriad of space sectors and topics. The IAC offers the latest developments in academia and industry, and provides opportunities for exchanging ideas, networking, and potential partnerships.

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace presented his paper “Global Space Futures — 2050” at the 36th International Academy of Astronautics Symposium on Space Policy, Regulations and Economics. You can read his paper below from the file uploaded to this page.

SPI Professor Dr. Henry Hertzfeld was recognized by the International Institute of Space Law with a certificate of appreciation for his service, and co-chaired “Space Economy Session – A focus on in-space operations and their potential to stimulate economic development” as well as “Cost and Procurement impacts on Space Programmes linked to high inflation
and world-wide scarcity of components and materials.”

SPI Research Professor Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund was a speaker for the “Space for Emerging Ecosystems – Emerging Ecosystems for Space” section.

SPI MA alum and current GW PhD student Andrew Garza presented his paper “Engagement and Communication of the Space Sustainability Rating.”

Many SPI alumni attended as well, including Associate Professor Dr. Mariel Borowitz of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Angela Peura who works with NASA SCaN, and Faud Guliyev who lives in Baku.

Global-Space-Futures-2050-Pace-final Download