Newswise — Work is progressing on a Code of Conduct for Space " so spacefaring nations can continue to benefit from the national security and economic advantages provided by satellites.
A special edition of the Secure World Foundation's newsletter " The Secure World " spotlights the ongoing effort to shape a Code that can be adopted by like-minded states that operate on the high-seas of space.
"We look at this important work on a Code of Conduct for Space as also a first step in developing a well-defined piece of space traffic management," said Ray Williamson, Executive Director of the Colorado-based Secure World Foundation (SWF).
The Secure World is a biweekly online publication focused on space governance. In the just released issue of the newsletter, the SWF highlights the work of The Henry L. Stimson Center, a key Secure World Foundation partner.
A leader in advocating a Code of Conduct for space is Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Stimson Center, a non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works on international security issues. He is also diplomatic scholar at the University of Virginia.
Krepon notes in The Secure World that collaboration in drafting a Code is underway with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) within countries to internationalize the effort " steps that have led to advance a Code of Conduct for space. Throughout this year, he added, the goal is to gain more endorsement of the Code, to seek agreement on its key elements within governments.
Shaping a set of principles
Drafting a code for space is no easy task. Work is required on deliberating what constitutes "no harmful interference" of space objects, as well as clarifying what are space weapons, such as anti-satellites (ASATs).
Williamson of the Secure World Foundation said the Code can shape a set of principles for respecting the rights of all spacefaring nations and users of satellites to operate in space.
"It's what civilized people do. We operate by all sorts of codes of conduct here on Earth, particularly in ocean operations on the high seas, be they for military or civilian purposes," Williamson said. SWF strongly supports Krepon's efforts and his strategy to push the Code of Conduct for space forward, he added.
The Secure World Foundation promotes Cooperative solutions for space security. For more information on the Secure World Foundation, go to:http://www.secureworldfoundation.org
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