Info

SWF Podcast

This podcast features content produced by the Secure World Foundation (SWF), a private operating foundation that promotes cooperative solutions for space sustainability and the peaceful uses of outer space. The Foundation acts as a research body, convener and facilitator to promote key space security, and other related topics, and to examine their influence on governance and international development.
RSS Feed
SWF Podcast
2022
December
November
October


2020
July
March


2019
October
July
May
April
January


2018
August
July
June


2017
November
July
May
April
January


2016
November
June
May
April


2015
November
September
March
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: Page 2
Nov 7, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2017.

This luncheon panel discussion examined the technical, legal, and policy prospects for active debris removal (ADR), and the steps Congress can take to help incentivize the development of ADR technologies and capabilities. 

Space debris continues to pose a significant threat to future space activities. Although progress has been made over the last decade on implementing voluntary guidelines to minimize the creation of new debris, some 22,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10 cm still exists in orbit around the Earth. Scientific studies done by multiple space agencies have shown that collisions between these debris objects will generate thousands of additional space debris, even if there were no new launches, and that removing some of the largest space debris objects from orbit can mitigate this growth and future risk. 

In 2010, the Obama Administration issued a new US national space policy that included a directive to Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Secretary of Defense to jointly research and develop technologies and techniques to do ADR. Seven years later, little progress has been made, and neither NASA nor the Department of Defense has shown a willingness to invest in ADR development, despite the threat space debris poses to their continued use of space. NASA has awarded a few small grants to private sector entities for early concept studies of some promising ADR techniques, but that support has not included on-orbit demonstrations. 

This event is the third in a series organized by Secure World Foundation (SWF) on Capitol Hill. In 2012, "Trash in the Skies: The Challenge of Space Debris" discussed the impact the growing amount of space debris has had on space activities, and the importance of improving space situational awareness (SSA) for managing the risk posed by space debris, and national and international efforts to mitigate space debris. In July 2017, "Trash in the Skies II: Industry Perspectives on Dealing with Space Debris" provided an update that looked at the progress made, and not made, over the last five years, and included perspectives from satellite operators and insurers on the risk to satellites from collisions with space debris. 

Speakers

Opening Remarks: Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Member, Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness

Panelists:

  • Dr. Marshall Kaplan, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Launchspace Technology Corporation
  • Mr. Jerome Pearson, President, Star Technology and Research, Inc.
  • Dr. Siegfried Janson, Senior Scientists, The Aerospace Corporation
  • Mr. James Dunstan, Founder, Mobius Legal Group
  • Dr. Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation

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

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

Jul 12, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2017.

SWF held a luncheon panel discussion on Capitol Hill that brought together private sector experts to discuss the current space debris situation, what steps are being done (or not done) to address it, whether the blanket 25-year rule is still sufficient, and what role industry can play in helping ensuring the long-term sustainability of space while fostering continued innovation and growth of the space sector.

In 2012, Secure World Foundation (SWF) hosted an event on Capitol Hill called "Trash in the Skies: The Challenge of Space Debris" to discuss the impact the growing amount of space debris has had on space activities. The event highlighted the then estimated 22,000 pieces of space debris larger than a softball that could destroy a satellite in a collision, and the hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller debris that could cause serious damage. The event also discussed the importance of improving space situational awareness (SSA) for managing the risk posed by space debris, and national and international efforts to mitigate space debris. The biggest effort focused on implementing voluntary space debris mitigation guidelines, the most important of which stipulated that no objects should be left in a protected region for longer than 25 years after the end of their useful life. In addition, the space community needed to focus on developing the capability to start removing space debris from orbit, in order to avoid long-term growth in increased risk over time.

Five years later, there have been few meaningful improvements in the situation. Space debris still continues to pose a threat to space activities. Compliance with the 25-year rule hovers around 40-60%, a rate scientists have concluded is insufficient to stave off long-term growth. Additionally, there have been only very limited efforts made to develop debris removal technologies, particularly in the United States where both NASA and the Department of Defense have shown little willingness to prioritize it.  At the same time, the commercial space industry has grown, with dozens of new companies raising billions in private investment to embark on new and innovative uses of space. Several of these companies are planning large constellations of hundreds to thousands of satellites,  sparking new concerns about space debris and congestion in space.

Speakers

  • Mr. Jonathan Goff, President and CEO, Altius Space Machines
  • Dr. Tim Maclay, Director of Mission Systems Engineering, OneWeb
  • Ms. Lauri Newman, Conjunction Assessment Manager, NASA
  • Dr. James Vedda, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, the Aerospace Corporation
  • Mr. Mike Vinter, Executive Vice President, AON Risk Solutions
  • Moderator: Dr. Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation

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

Jul 12, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2017.

SWF co-sponsored, with the National Space Weather Partnership, the 2017 the Space Weather Enterprise Forum. This year’s theme was "Implementing a National Space Weather Partnership.”

The forum brought together a blended audience of space weather experts from both research and operations, space weather users from the public and private sectors, academia, international representatives, and policy makers. One of the event objectives was continuing outreach and education to raise awareness of space weather effects on systems and humans and to provide information on available services.

Speakers

  • Dr. Sarah Gibson, Chair, Committee for Solar and Space Physics, National Academies of Science, and University for Atmospheric Research
  • Mr. Alec Engell, NextGen Federal Systems and American Commercial Space Weather Association
  • Mr. Charles Chafer, Space Services Incorporated and American Commercial Space Weather Association
  • Moderator: Ms. Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation

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

Jul 12, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2017.

SWF co-sponsored, with the National Space Weather Partnership, the 2017 the Space Weather Enterprise Forum. This year’s theme was "Implementing a National Space Weather Partnership.”

The forum brought together a blended audience of space weather experts from both research and operations, space weather users from the public and private sectors, academia, international representatives, and policy makers. One of the event objectives was continuing outreach and education to raise awareness of space weather effects on systems and humans and to provide information on available services.

Speakers

  • Mr. Steven Clarke, Director, Heliophysics Division, Headquarters, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Dr. Jeffrey Love, Research Geophysicist, Advisor for Geomagnetic Research, US Geological Survey
  • Mr. Kenneth Hodgkins, Director, Office of Space and Advanced Technology, US Department of State
  • Moderator: Mr. William Murtagh, Program Coordinator, Space Weather Operations Research and Mitigation (SWORM) Subcommittee and NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

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

Jul 12, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2017.

SWF co-sponsored, with the National Space Weather Partnership, the 2017 the Space Weather Enterprise Forum. This year’s theme was "Implementing a National Space Weather Partnership.”

The forum brought together a blended audience of space weather experts from both research and operations, space weather users from the public and private sectors, academia, international representatives, and policy makers. One of the event objectives was continuing outreach and education to raise awareness of space weather effects on systems and humans and to provide information on available services.

Speakers

  • Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Dr. William Easterling, Assistant Director Geosciences, National Science Foundation
  • Dr. Louis Uccellini, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director, National Weather Service
  • Dr. Conrad Lautenbacher, Chief Executive Officer, GeoOptics Incorporated and American Commercial Space Weather Association
  • Moderator: Mr. Martin Frederick, Northrop Grumman Civil Space Programs

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

Jul 12, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2017.

SWF co-sponsored, with the National Space Weather Partnership, the 2017 the Space Weather Enterprise Forum. This year’s theme was "Implementing a National Space Weather Partnership.”

The forum brought together a blended audience of space weather experts from both research and operations, space weather users from the public and private sectors, academia, international representatives, and policy makers. One of the event objectives was continuing outreach and education to raise awareness of space weather effects on systems and humans and to provide information on available services.

Speakers

  • Ms. Kenyetta Blunt, Chief, Recovery Planning Branch, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Mr. Ralph Stoffler, Director of Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, US Air Force
  • Dr. Ken Friedman, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Department of Energy
  • Mr. Mark MacAlester, Telecommunications Specialist and National Response Coordinator in the Disaster Emergency Communications Division at FEMA
  • Moderator: Mr. Jack Anderson, Department of Homeland Security

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

Jul 12, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2017.

SWF co-sponsored, with the National Space Weather Partnership, the 2017 the Space Weather Enterprise Forum. This year’s theme was "Implementing a National Space Weather Partnership.”

The forum brought together a blended audience of space weather experts from both research and operations, space weather users from the public and private sectors, academia, international representatives, and policy makers. One of the event objectives was continuing outreach and education to raise awareness of space weather effects on systems and humans and to provide information on available services.

Speakers

  • Mr. Ralph Stoffler, Director of Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, US Air Force
  • Major General Scott Vander Hamm, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, US Air Force
  • Dr. Stephen Volz, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

May 23, 2017

Recorded in Washington DC, on May 18, 2017.

The Embassy of Italy, the U.S. Department of State, and Secure World Foundation held a discussion on space weather as a global challenge with a focus on research, operations and preparedness. This event updated the international community on progress made toward implementing the U.S. National Space Weather Strategy and advances in Italy, Europe, and beyond.  

Featuring space-weather experts from across the world, the morning's three panels focused on space weather research and observations, space weather services, and industry perspectives. Following lunch, the participants gathered for technical discussions about improving research and observation, developing international frameworks, and enhancing preparedness. 

Speakers

  • H.E. Armando Varricchio
  • Prof. Roberto Battiston
  • Dr. Jonathan Margolis
  • Ms. Victoria Samson
  • Mr. Steven Clarke
  • Prof. Alberto Buzzoni
  • Dr. Paul Shepson
  • Dr. Mamoru Ishii
  • Dr. William Lapenta
  • Dr. Leonardo Sagnotti
  • Dr. Juergen Drescher
  • Gen. Luigi Del Bene
  • Mr. Ralph Stoffler
  • Mr. Ken Hodgkins
  • Mr. Bob Jackson
  • Mr. Frank Koza
  • Mr. Vincenzo Giorgio
  • Mr. Ignazio Droghini
  • Mr. Marco Brancati
  • Mr. Stefano Cesare

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

Apr 17, 2017

Recorded in Colorado Springs, CO, on April 6, 2017.

There are an increasing number of governmental and private sector actors in space, which could lead to existing new applications and benefits on Earth but also increased space sustainability challenges. To discuss these issues, SWF held an luncheon panel discussion at the 33rd Space Symposium. The panel featured a variety of perspectives to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing new actors, and the issues and potential positive benefits that the growth in participants poses to existing actors, with the goal of pointing out that structures need to be in place to ensure that all can continue to benefit from access to and use of space over the long-term. SWF presented our new Handbook for New Space Actors, an electronic version of which can be found here.

Speakers

  • Mr. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Assistant Director General for Science & Technology Sector, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
  • Mr. Pete Hoene, President and CEO, SES Government Solutions
  • Mr. Rich Leshner, Vice President of Government Affairs, Planet
  • Ms. Audrey Schaffer, Director, Space Strategy and Plans in the Office of the Secretary of Defense - Office of the Secretary of Defense

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

Jan 30, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on January 27, 2017.

On January 27, 1967, the Outer Space Treaty was opened for signature in Moscow, London, and Washington DC. On the fiftieth anniversary of this occasion, a luncheon symposium was held at Georgetown University to reflect on the development of the Outer Space Treaty, the fundamental role the US government played in its development, as well as rationales behind the treaty and fundamentals of public international law underpinning the document and informing our understanding of it.

This event was organized by the American Society of International Law (ASIL) with the support of the Secure World Foundation and the Georgetown Space Law Society.

Speakers (in order of appearance):

  • Ms. Oonagh Sands, American Society of International Law
  • Mr. Christopher Johnson, Secure World Foundation
  • Moderator, Mr. Steve Mirmina, Georgetown University
  • Mr. David A. Koplow, Georgetown University
  • Mr. Robert E. Dalton, US Department of State

More details, including a video recording of the event, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Jan 17, 2017

Recorded in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2017.

On January 11, 2007, China destroyed one of its aging weather satellites using a ground-based anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon. The 2007 ASAT test, and a similar test by the United States a year later, reignited international and domestic debates over strategic stability and deterrence, space weaponization, and the potential for a space arms race. Ten years later, many of the same tensions and questions remain. 
 
This luncheon panel discussion brought together experts to discuss the evolution of the space security environment over the last decade, and specifically the evolution and current state of the relationship between the United States and China. Panelists will provide contrasting views on the perceptions and tensions on both sides, and outline potential options and strategies the Trump Administration may take going forward.
 
Speakers (in order of appearance):

More details, including speaker bios and a video recording of the event, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Nov 4, 2016

Recorded in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2016.

On June 17, 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) agreed to twelve long-term sustainability (LTS) guidelines, representing “best practices” for the safe and responsible use of space. These twelve voluntary guidelines mark a successful milestone out of years of discussions within COPUOS and represent the Committee’s role in fostering international cooperation in ensuring that everyone can continue to derive benefits from the use of space over the long-term.

Co-organized by the Secure World Foundation and the U.S. Department of State, "Progress and Planning Ahead: International Best Practices for Outer Space Sustainability" brought together top U.S. and international space policy experts from governments, industry, and academia to discuss the current state of the long-term sustainability guidelines discussions, national implementation strategies, and next steps for the international community to ensure that space is sustainable over the long-term.

This podcast is a recording of the fourth panel from the event, on "Multilateral Organizations: International Efforts and Successes."  Speakers:

  • Gerard Brachet, space policy consultant, former chair of COPUOS
  • Sergio Marchisio, University Sapienza of Rome
  • Mazlan Othman, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, former Director of UNOOSA
  • Scott Pace, George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute
  • Moderator: Ken Hodgkins, U.S. Department of State

More details, including speaker bios and a video recording of the event, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Nov 4, 2016

Recorded in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2016.

On June 17, 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) agreed to twelve long-term sustainability (LTS) guidelines, representing “best practices” for the safe and responsible use of space. These twelve voluntary guidelines mark a successful milestone out of years of discussions within COPUOS and represent the Committee’s role in fostering international cooperation in ensuring that everyone can continue to derive benefits from the use of space over the long-term.

Co-organized by the Secure World Foundation and the U.S. Department of State, "Progress and Planning Ahead: International Best Practices for Outer Space Sustainability" brought together top U.S. and international space policy experts from governments, industry, and academia to discuss the current state of the long-term sustainability guidelines discussions, national implementation strategies, and next steps for the international community to ensure that space is sustainable over the long-term.

This podcast is a recording of the third panel from the event, on "Multilateral Organizations: International Efforts and Successes."  Speakers:

  • Mike Gold, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC)
  • Elliot Pulham, Space Foundation
  • Madhurita Sengupta, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • Frank Slazer, Aerospace Industries Association
  • Charity Weeden, Satellite Industry Association
  • Moderator: Marcia Smith, SpacePolicyOnline.com

More details, including speaker bios and a video recording of the event, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Nov 4, 2016

Recorded in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2016.

On June 17, 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) agreed to twelve long-term sustainability (LTS) guidelines, representing “best practices” for the safe and responsible use of space. These twelve voluntary guidelines mark a successful milestone out of years of discussions within COPUOS and represent the Committee’s role in fostering international cooperation in ensuring that everyone can continue to derive benefits from the use of space over the long-term.

Co-organized by the Secure World Foundation and the U.S. Department of State, "Progress and Planning Ahead: International Best Practices for Outer Space Sustainability" brought together top U.S. and international space policy experts from governments, industry, and academia to discuss the current state of the long-term sustainability guidelines discussions, national implementation strategies, and next steps for the international community to ensure that space is sustainable over the long-term.

This podcast is a recording of the second panel from the event, on "Multilateral Organizations: International Efforts and Successes."  Speakers:

  • Alexander E. Ermolaev, Embassy of the Russian Federation
  • Pascal Faucher, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, France
  • Ken Hodgkins, Department of State, United States
  • Liu Jing, China National Space Administration, China
  • Andre Rypl, Agência Espacial Brasileira, Brazil
  • Atsushi Saito, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
  • Sarah Telford, British Embassy in Washington, United Kingdom
  • Moderator: Theresa Hitchens, University of Maryland

More details, including speaker bios and a video recording of the event, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Nov 4, 2016

Recorded in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2016.

On June 17, 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) agreed to twelve long-term sustainability (LTS) guidelines, representing “best practices” for the safe and responsible use of space. These twelve voluntary guidelines mark a successful milestone out of years of discussions within COPUOS and represent the Committee’s role in fostering international cooperation in ensuring that everyone can continue to derive benefits from the use of space over the long-term.

Co-organized by the Secure World Foundation and the U.S. Department of State, "Progress and Planning Ahead: International Best Practices for Outer Space Sustainability" brought together top U.S. and international space policy experts from governments, industry, and academia to discuss the current state of the long-term sustainability guidelines discussions, national implementation strategies, and next steps for the international community to ensure that space is sustainable over the long-term.

This podcast is a recording of the introductions and first panel from the event, on "Multilateral Organizations: International Efforts and Successes."  Speakers:

  • Simonetta di Pippo, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
  • David Kendall, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
  • Peter Martinez, COPUOS Long Term Sustainability Working Group
  • Moderator: Victoria Samson, Secure World Foundation

More details, including speaker bios and a video recording of the event, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Jun 1, 2016
Recorded in Washington, DC, on May 31, 2016
 
In 2011, the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence published a National Security Space Strategy (NSSS) that provided guidance to the U.S. national security space community on how to address the challenges of what they deemed an increasingly "contested, congested, and competitive" space environment. The 2011 NSSS proposed the following set of interrelated strategic approaches for meeting U.S. national security space objectives:
  • Promote responsible, peaceful, and safe use of space;
  • Provide improved U.S. space capabilities;
  • Partner with responsible nations, international organizations, and commercial firms;
  • Prevent and deter aggression against space infrastructure that supports U.S. national security; and
  • Prepare to defeat attacks and to operate in a degraded environment
In the five years since, the debate over the U.S. approach to meeting the challenges of the future space environment has only intensified. Within the national security space community, there has been a significant amount of effort put into fleshing out the concepts to implement the 2011 NSSS, culminating in the publication in 2015 of a white paper outlining a taxonomy for Space Domain Mission Assurance and elements of the FY2016 budget request. But details are still scarce, and both the overall approach outlined in the 2011 NSSS and its implementation have attracted significant criticism and critique. Congress has signaled its concern by mandating a study on "Alternative Defense and Deterrence Strategies in Response to Foreign Counterspace Capabilities" in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act. Outsiders have criticized the current approach as both too weak and too aggressive.
  
This luncheon panel discussion provided a range of perspectives on both implementing the 2011 NSSS as well as alternative approaches to addressing the challenges of the current and future trends in space. 
 
More details, including speaker bios and an audio transcript, can be found at the event page on the SWF website.

Speakers

May 11, 2016

Space activities are becoming more globalized. Today, more than sixty countries operate one or more satellite in space, and virtually all countries depend on space for some combination of national security, social, and economic benefits. There are an increasing number of space actors as a result.  Furthermore, countries with existing space programs are also expanding their space activities into new sectors. At the same time, the world is seeing a boom in private sector activity in space, driven by the commercialization of technology and increasing availability of capital. 

As these new government and private sector actors enter into the space domain, and existing actors push into new areas, they face both challenges and opportunities. The growing use of space applications is helping address a greater number of challenges on Earth, while expanding commercial activity is leading to increased innovation and the potential development of new capabilities and lower costs. At the same time, new private sector actors face a steep learning curve for understanding regulatory requirements and safe space operations, and countries face challenges in putting in place national law and policy. 

In conjunction with its project to develop a Handbook for new Actors in Space, SWF held a luncheon panel discussion on May 10, 2016, in Washington, DC, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing new actors in space. Panelists provided a range of governmental, international, and private sector perspectives on their experiences, the obstacles they face and efforts to address these challenges. 

More information, speaker bios, and presentations can be found on the event page on the SWF website.

Speakers

  • Mr. Jean-Michel Eid, Managing Director, Space Partnership International, LLC (SPI)
  • Dr. Rich Leshner, Director of Government Affairs, Planet Labs
  • Mr. Philippe Moreels, Head of Strategy and Business Development, ASTROSCALE
  • Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Senior Fellow and Head of the Nuclear and Space Policy Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
  • Ms. Laura Delgado López, Project Manager, Secure World Foundation (Moderator) 
May 6, 2016

As the domestic and international community discusses and implements policy and legislation focused on space resource rights, this panel will focus on identifying legal, policy, and business implications of that activity. The discussion will focus on practical considerations related to the development of space resources-related regulatory frameworks and their relationship to both commercial development and international commitments.

On May 5, 2016, SWF and the Alliance for Space Development (ASD) hosted a panel discussion in Washington, DC, on "Asteroids, Mining, and Policy: Practical Consideration of Space Resource Rights" to discuss these issues. 

For further information, speaker bios, and presentations please see the event page on the SWF website.
Speakers:

  • Kenneth Hodgkins, Director of Space and Advanced Technology, U.S. Department of State
  • Peter Marquez, Vice President for Global Engagement, Planetary Resources
  • Jim Dunstan, Founder, Mobius Legal Group
  • Christopher W. Ingraham, Senior Legislative Assistant, Office of Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)
  • Moderator:  Ian Christensen, Project Manager, Secure World Foundation
Apr 25, 2016

Space security is an increasingly important issue, and one that has taken on new meaning in recent years with increased concerns about protecting space capabilities from both intentional and environmental threats. 

On April 14, 2016, the Secure World Foundation hosted an invite-only luncheon panel discussion at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as part of the 32nd Annual Space Symposium, to discuss the current state of space security using the lens of existing norms of behavior, concerns about the resiliency of space assets, and changing attitudes about space protection. 

For further information and speaker presentations, please visit the event page on the SWF website.

Speakers

  • Mr. Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director General at the European Commission Directorate General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME’s
  • Mr. Erik Eliasen, Vice President at National Security Space Programs
  • Lt. Col. Mike Hellmann, Assistant Branch Chief of Strategic Planning and Concepts within the German MOD
  • Lt. General Eduardo Peña Merino, General de Aviación, Comandante del Comando de Combate, of the Chilean Air Force

Moderator: Dr. Michael Simpson, SWF Executive Director.

Apr 8, 2016

Our continued ability to get benefits from space assets will be interrupted if spectrum is not responsibly protected.  This issue is coming up more and more often, particularly so at meetings last November in Geneva for the World Radiocommunication Conference and as policymakers look at the future of GPS and other positioning, navigation, and timing systems.  As the U.S. government takes on the mantle of looking at how its space assets can overall be more resilient, spectrum protection is a key part of this discussion. 

This lunch-time panel will examine what major issues could potentially affect spectrum availability and utility over the near term and discuss what policies and/or legislation could help with those challenges.  

For further information and speaker bios, please see the event page on the SWF website.

Speakers

  • Mr. Christopher Hegarty, Director, Communications, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS) Engineering and Spectrum, The MITRE Corporation
  • Mr. James J. Miller, Deputy Director,  Policy and Strategic Communications Division, Space Communications and Navigation Program, NASA Headquarters
  • Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University
  • Ms. Jennifer Warren, Vice President of Technology Policy and Regulation, Washington Operations Government and Regulatory Affairs, Lockheed Martin

Moderator: Ms. Victoria Samson, SWF Washington Office Director.

Nov 18, 2015

Recent multi-stakeholder discussions have highlighted the limited awareness on spectrum-related issues and their impacts within the broader Earth observations community, and the challenge of capturing the extent of reliance on potentially impacted programs and systems.

Sponsored by the Secure World Foundation, this morning panel event seeks to raise awareness of the risks facing the frequency bands used for meteorological purposes within the international GEO community, discuss opportunities for improved routine engagement between the relevant stakeholders, particularly at the regional level, and examine ways to communicate the impact of spectrum management decisions on the delivery of critical information services to policymakers. 

For further information and speaker bios, please see the event page on the SWF website.

Moderator: SWF Executive Director Dr. Michael Simpson

Speakers:

  • Dr. Halilu Ahmad Shaba, Director, Strategy Space Applications, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
  • Mr. David Hartshorn, Secretary General, Global VSAT Forum
  • Ms. Renee Leduc Clarke, Founder and Principal, Narayan Strategy
  • Mr. David Lubar, Radio Spectrum Management specialist in the GOES-R Program Office, Vaeros division of The Aerospace Corporation
Sep 23, 2015

Recorded September 22, 2015

Like many other sectors of space activities that were once "government only," the notion of privately owned and operated space stations is no longer science fiction. Within the next decade, it is likely we will have a scenario where there are multiple commercial and government space stations on orbit, with a mix of multiple government and private customers and a mix of government and commercial transportation services going back and forth. Such a scenario holds both incredible opportunity and a number of significant challenges to resolve.

This panel discussion brought together experts from civil society, industry, and the U.S. government to discuss what this future may look like, and what economic, policy, and regulatory challenges need to be overcome along the way. 

For further information and a copy of the presentations, please see the event page on the SWF website.

Moderator: Mr. Ian Christensen, Project Manager, Secure World Foundation

Speakers:

  • Mr. Charles Miller, President, NextGen Space, LLC
  • Mr. Mike Gold, Director, DC Operations and Business Growth, Bigelow Aerospace
  • Ms. Carissa Christensen, Managing Partner, The Tauri Group
  • Mr. Steph Earle, Office of Commercial Spaceflight, Federal Aviation Administration 
Mar 31, 2015

This event was recorded on March 27, 2015.

On Friday, March 27, 2015, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the Secure World Foundation (SWF) hosted a luncheon panel discussion from 12:00pm to 2:00pm EST on  “Challenges In Sharing Weather Satellite Spectrum With Terrestrial Networks” in Washington, DC.

In order to meet the growing demand for wireless broadband connectivity, the U.S. government is developing strategies to share radio frequency spectrum between federal and commercial users. Spectrum historically reserved for broadcasting meteorological satellite data to users from the current generation of polar-orbiting satellites was recently auctioned nationwide by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for over $2.4 billion. Federal regulators are now studying additional bands that may be shared in a future spectrum auction, including those currently used to download weather data from NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and for the future GOES-R series.

If GOES downlink spectrum is selected for sharing, there is a possibility of radio frequency interference between the new terrestrial commercial broadcasts and the existing satellite broadcasts that may render the satellite-received data unusable or degraded. Such interference could have significant impacts on the GOES-Variable (GVAR), GOES-R GOES Rebroadcast (GRB), the Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) -  which is used to support first responders around the country, High-Rate or Low-Rate Information Transmission (HRIT or LRIT), as well as relay of hydrometeorological data from the GOES Data Collection System (DCS), used for monitoring and warning of floods.

A panel of experts discussed these issues, including the motivation for the sharing, potential impacts to end users of any interference, and options for mitigating potential interference.

Speakers

  • Mr. Jack Brown, Director, Arlington County Office of Emergency Management
  • Dr. Carol Anne Clayson, Senior Scientist in the Department of Physical Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

  • Dr. Mike Johnson, Satellite Team Lead, Office of Science and Technology, National Weather Service, NOAA

  • Mr. David Lubar, Radio spectrum management specialist in the GOES-R Program Office, The Aerospace Corporation 

  • Mr. Robert Mason, Chief,  USGS Office of Surface Water, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
  • Mr. Mark Mulholland, Chief Systems Engineer, Office of Systems Development (OSD), NOAA

  • Mr. Mike Steinberg, Senior Corporate Consultant, AccuWeather

Presentations

 

Mar 24, 2015

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

 

Jan 28, 2015

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
« Previous 1 2 3 Next »