Astroscale’s Post

Join our distinguished panellists as they emphasise the benefits of collaboration between African space agencies and global partners from an international perspective and how African stakeholders can be fully integrated into global initiatives. #Newspaceafricaconference #Newspaceafrica2024

Honored to co-author this special report for the United States Institute of Peace with Julie Michelle Klinger, PhD. In 2020, Judd Devermont and I argued that if decision-makers in DC do not start paying attention to the African space program, the US will be outpaced by China and Russia. China has done relatively better since then. However, it is good to see that the White House is starting to include space in the broader US foreign policy objectives, evident in the first US-Africa Space Summit held in December, but there’s still much more to do. It is therefore welcoming that NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration is co-organizing the first US-Africa Commercial Space Stakeholders Meeting” with the African Union next month in Baku, Azerbaijan, as this is an excellent effort to align with African space policy and extend space-related commerce with Africa.

India’s spectacular achievement yesterday got me to do a little digging on taxation of outer space. Turns out there is a 1967 Outer Space Treaty under which no country has a unique ownership in the Moon and all nations are accorded equal rights and access. Which means every nation has for example say mining or exploration rights on the moon. It is also well settled in law that satellites do not have any permanent establishment when in space. I can think of scores of other questions that can be raised in the context of outer space travel and exploration. With several companies exploring outer space travel, it’s better that a multilateral research body is set up now, as it would take decades for countries to reach any common ground on taxation of commercial activities in outer space. https://lnkd.in/dKKNpWVY

"ESPI2040: Space for Prosperity, Peace and Future Generations" -" A bold new policy vision for Europe in space for the coming decades by the European Space Policy Institute, Europe’s independent think-tank for space... - ESPI’s Vision and complementary mission for Europe in space by 2040; - European and global challenges and understanding Europe’s place in the world; - Europe’s achievements in space and the ensuing space revolution; and   - ESPI’s Agenda for achieving this policy vision and ESPI’s future evolution..." ESPI Read & learn more

Several contentious issues were brought forward at the recent meeting of the Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Legal Subcommittee (LSC), including the definition and delimitation of outer space, space heritage and resource ownership, rational and equitable access to geostationary orbit, and legal aspects of space sustainability. What were the contentions and the outcome of the deliberations? How may these affect access to space and peaceful exploration? What are the areas of agreement and how may consensus be reach on contending areas? What is the role of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)? Join the upcoming conversation with Ms. Nomfuneko Majaja (immediate past Chair of the LSC committee. Ms. Majaja is Chief Director at the the dti (Department of Trade and Industry: Republic of South Africa). She was lead of the South African delegation to the LSC meeting. To participate in the conversation, please register here: https://lnkd.in/ebXzxZz9

US State Drpt: Argentina Signs the Artemis Accords - 27 July 2023 18:32 Office of the Spokesperson: In a ceremony hosted by President Alberto Fernández at the Casa Rosada, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Daniel Filmus signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the Argentine Republic. The ceremony took place during the visit of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to Argentina. Administrator Nelson gave remarks, as did U.S. Ambassador Marc R. Stanley, President Fernández, and Foreign Minister Cafiero. Argentina became the 28th nation to sign the Accords, and the fifth Latin American country, following Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. Since January 2023, five nations have joined the Accords: the Czech Republic, Spain, Ecuador, India, and now Argentina. The diverse Accords signatories – spanning every permanently inhabited continent – represent a growing multilateral conversation and share a common vision of peaceful space cooperation. By signing the Accords, Argentina has demonstrated its commitment to important principles such as transparency, emergency assistance and release of scientific data in its space activities. The United States and Argentina have a long history of cooperating in space, including in space geodetic research; satellite-based Earth observations; and in bilateral trade and investment in space-related goods and services. Through the Artemis Accords, our nations share a common understanding and approach to safe and sustainable exploration and use of outer space. The Artemis Accords were launched on October 13, 2020, with eight nations. Jointly led by the Department of State and NASA for the United States, the Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. With Argentina’s signature, the twenty-eight Accords signatories are: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. More info at https://lnkd.in/dDspydFi

Interesting paper describes China’s grand strategy in space under Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, and in particular China’s robust #cislunar space plans and activities, and the strategic implications of China’s plans for the eventual domination of cislunar space. See Marc Berkowitz and Chris Williams, "Strategic Implications of China's Cislunar Space Activities," for National Security Space Association (NSSA) #Lunapolitics #China https://lnkd.in/d2G95zkW

1⃣7⃣ #GlobalGoals 1⃣ shared future We need to #ActNow using all available assets. The #Space2030 Agenda adopted in 2021 commits countries to boost global efforts in using space for sustainable development🛰️ under the pillars of space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy. Follow our #Space4SDGs campaign leading to the #SDGSummit to learn how UNOOSA supports endeavours in: 💰Boosting space economy 💟Improving the quality of life 🚀Advancing access to space 🤝Nurturing cooperation

A couple of African countries participated in the 61st Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS), that was held from 29 Jan - 9 Feb 2024. Statements were made by Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia as well as a joint statement by the African Group. Join us as we discuss the concerns raised by the African delegations, including: - low number of African Union Member States in COPUOS - inclusivity and geographic representation at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) - equal and non-discriminatory access to space - increasing number of megaconstellations and harmful interference with astronomical facilities - increasing threats from space debris - increasing militarisation of space Our lead discussant is Ms. Alma Okpalefe (Executive Director, World Space Week Association). To join the conversation, please register here: https://lu.ma/dh0cme1r

#China’s most significant advances in bilateral space cooperation with #LAC states have been with #populist regimes that share #China’s worldview and are often in need of financial assistance and unable to obtain it from the West. On the heels of its 2003 financial crisis, #Argentina signed a framework agreement for space cooperation with Beijing in 2004. Signed between Argentina’s National Space Activities Commission and China’s National Space Agency, it centered around the use of China’s Long March rockets to launch Argentine satellites from the then-newly established national satellite company, Argentina Satellite Solutions Company. In this regard, it also served as a precursor for the development of the Espacio Lejano Station, in Neuquen province, Patagonia. The station, with its 35-meter-diameter antenna and operations run by the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General, a division of the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force, remains something of an enigma. Agreed to in 2014 by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and made operational in late 2017, it appears to be a dual-use facility – utilized for Chinese civilian and military purposes. Some analysts suggest it could have been involved in the Chinese spy balloon that appeared in U.S. airspace earlier this year. Yet absent transparency and Argentine oversight, this cannot be confirmed. The $500 million facility, which is part of the Chinese Deep Space Network, is Beijing’s first deep space earth station outside of the mainland. It is designed to facilitate communication between deep space missions and spacecraft that pass over the southern hemisphere. Chinese state media claimed it “played an important role” in the Chang’e 4’s 2019 landing on the far side of the moon. It is also integral to China’s Mars research and its plans to improve multi-objective tracking, telemetry, and command capabilities (#MTTC), which would allow for more coordinated communication in complex missions. Improved MTTC capabilities would also enhance the PLA’s battlefield awareness, navigation, and positioning” #Argentina🇦🇷 #China🇨🇳#SpaceBase📡🛰️ #research #military #development #debt # #network #communication #share