Fair and Responsible Use of Outer Space: Experts Discuss Issues

Newswise — How can equitable and responsible utilization of outer space be achieved for the global community of spacefaring nations?

That key question is being addressed during a two-day meeting of international experts, held November 20-21 in Vienna, Austria and hosted by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) and jointly organized with the Secure World Foundation and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

This is a particularly timely topic as space applications are central to 21st century interactions between nations. Increasingly, governments as well as private and university organizations are involved in space activities.

As a result, strategies to establish a coordinated, ethically justifiable and sustainable conduct in space activities have to be found.

The Fair and Responsible Use of Space: An International Perspective meeting will bring together experts that will focus on three areas:

-- Questions regarding the use of space-- Fair rules on orbit-- Global engagement on space security issues

"Bringing together such an array of international space experts is an important step in working out the details for the secure and sustainable use of space," said Cynda Collins Arsenault, President of the Secure World Foundation. "As they say, 'the devil's in the details' but there is no better time to start than now."

"ESPI, IAA and the Secure World Foundation are partners in facilitating decision-makers and stakeholders from around the world to discuss policy and technical options for a diverse range of space governance issues," said Phil Smith, SWF's Communications Director.

Those issues include civil space situational awareness, space traffic management, mitigation of orbital debris and space weaponization, Smith said. Only through global collaboration across diverse interests will spacefaring nations be able to overcome the complexities inherent in the peaceful uses of outer space, Smith added.

The workshop will outline the current space security situation, identify and analyze key challenges to the achievement of the fair and sustainable use of outer space, and formulate proposals for action.

Following the conference, articles based on the presentations given in Vienna will be compiled, edited and published in the ESPI Springer book series.

For further information, contact:

Palais FantoSchwarzenbergplatz 6(Entrance: Zaunergasse 1-3)A-1030 Vienna, AustriaTel +43 1 718 1118 -0 / Fax -99E-mail: [email protected]

For information on the meeting and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), please go to:

http://www.espi.or.at/