European Review of International Studies’ Post

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the POLSA Polska Agencja Kosmiczna | Polish Space Agency have signed an agreement for cooperation on the peaceful uses of outer space at the Sheraton Manila Hotel, Pasay on 05 December 2024. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PhilSA and POLSA covers the following areas of cooperation: Earth Observation (EO) and remote sensing; space science and exploration of outer space; promotion of space industry; promotion of space education through various academic activities for areas focusing on space science technology applications (SSTA); and other areas of cooperation that may be mutually decided upon by both Agencies. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gmGDZYBC

📺 WATCH: Our colleagues Aya Iwamoto and Vini A. during the Policy Symposium held by the Agência Espacial Portuguesa | Portugal Space and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in preparation for Summit for the Future.   Catch Aya at 0:09:00 discussing the importance of the ADRAS-J mission as an effort to transform the future of the space economy, and watch Vini at 4:10:00 talking about the space debris issue and the role of on-orbit servicing and Astroscale's activities and missions in developing a sustainable space economy. Interesting discussions were held about ways to ensure the inclusion of industry, non-governmental entities, and NGOs in the international law and regulation process, as well as how lessons can be learnt from the ITU process, and the EU Space Law process and its importance. Special acknowledgement to Portugal, Portugal Space and ANACOM, the PT space authority, for issuing the first licence for satellite launch and command and control operations on March 5, 2024. This is a great example of the democratization of space activities around the world, but it also reminds us that we need to preserve the long-term sustainability of outer space activities to ensure that new space players can carry out their space activities in a space environment free of space debris and other space hazards.   https://lnkd.in/gbj2CxmU #SpaceSymposium #SpaceDebris #OuterSpaceGovernance #Sustainability #UNOOSA #FutureSummit 

Today, at the ongoing Global Space Policy (GSP) course, Dr Namrata Goswami delivered a lecture on Fundamentals of Space Policymaking. The lecture was followed by a simulation exercise, where a session of the African Space Council (#ASC) in Egypt's Space City, had to decide on three top priority areas for the African Space Agency (#AfSA), towards meeting the goals of sustainable development of space activities and the African Union Agenda 2063. Participants then made presentations, responding to the ff. questions: (1) What are the three core space technologies that the AfSA should prioritise, mid-term (2035) and long-term (2063)? How should the ASC advise and plan in this regard? (2) What kind of funding will be required and what regulations are needed to bolster this development? (3) What will be the role of commercial space in Africa and how can the AfSA encourage this? (4) Since international collaboration is key, which country representative (U.S., China, India) offers the best approach to Africa's space development? Which countries (U.S., China, India) should ASC prioritise in terms of space cooperation and development of technologies? (5) What should be the African Space Agency’s position regarding the UN Resolution 75/36 to ensure responsible behaviour in space and limit militarisation and anti-satellite weapon tests? Thanks Toyosi Olaniyan for providing support for the simulation exercise. For a peep into the 3-hour lecture, pls see Dr. Goswami's article: https://lnkd.in/e2BPmMgJ

The U.S.-New Zealand Space Dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening space cooperation between the two nations. This collaboration focuses on commercial space growth, policy, scientific education, and sustainable practices in space. The dialogue not only reinforces bilateral ties but also sets the groundwork for future scientific and commercial partnerships.   A New Frontier in U.S. #commercialspacecooperation #commercialspaceregulation #internationalspacetreaties #MethaneSATmission #NASANewZealandpartnership #orbitallaunchcadence #spaceindustrycollaboration #spacepolicyinteroperability #spacesituationalawareness #UnitedNationsspacecooperation

Why Space Policy is Crucial for Our Future In an era where technology and innovation drive progress, space policy plays a pivotal role in shaping our collective future. 1. Global Cooperation: Space policy fosters international collaboration, enabling countries to work together on scientific research, disaster management, and space exploration. This cooperation can lead to peaceful relations and shared benefits for all. 2. Economic Growth: The space industry generates significant economic opportunities. Clear and effective policies can help stimulate investment, drive innovation, and create jobs. 3. Security and Defense: Space is increasingly seen as a strategic domain. Robust space policies ensure the protection of national assets and infrastructure, as well as the prevention of conflicts in outer space. 4. Scientific Advancement: Policies supporting space exploration and research lead to groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements that have broad applications, from healthcare to environmental monitoring. 5. Sustainability: With the growing number of satellites and space missions, space debris is a significant concern. Effective space policies are essential for managing space traffic and ensuring the long-term sustainability of space activities. Comprehensive space policies are vital for harnessing the full potential of space, driving economic growth, ensuring security, and fostering international cooperation. As we look to the stars, our policies here on Earth will guide us toward a brighter, more innovative future.

An interesting argument on changing the narrative for why the UK must invest in space capabilities, from Gabriel Elefteriu FRAeS at the Council on Geostrategy. The rise of Great Power competition and near-peer state threats, as well as the expansion of space capabilities across the global with a wider range of actors, means that the UK mus adopt a "space-power mindset" and recognise space as a domain to compete in for strategic advantage: “To defend itself on Earth, Britain needs to be able to defend itself in space.” The paper also makes the case that space can be a platform for the UK to bring together new alliances – such as an ESA-like Intercontinental Space Alliance for the Indo-Pacific region. Interestingly the paper also cites Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the International Space Station in 2015 as evidence of public interest in investing in space: “an ambitious space vision can galvanise public imagination and become a self-fulfilling prophesy.” Worth noting that £7.6bn of UK GDP would be lost if satellite navigation services went down for a 7-day period. Space resilience is key. https://lnkd.in/ergw9f2i James Rogers Mann Virdee #Astropolitics #SpacePower #spacetechnology #SDA

A South-North Perspective on Space Policy Center for Strategic & International Studies 25 Jul 2024 35 West Space has long been colored by divides between the “haves” who possess the economic and technological wherewithal to make it to orbit and beyond, and the “have-nots” who lack these capabilities. This divide in turn has historically played out between the Global North and the Global South, with the latter grouping feeling as if they have been excluded from sharing in the benefits of space exploration. However, this is only part of the picture. As space becomes both increasingly critical and accessible, there is a need for a more nuanced understanding of how a broader set of global players view the issues surrounding these capabilities. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Laura Delgado López, a Visiting Fellow with the CSIS Americas Program. Together, they discuss the evolving and divergent space policies that can be found throughout Latin America. They also unpack her new report Orbital Dynamics: The Domestic and Foreign Policy Forces Shaping Latin American Engagement in Space (https://lnkd.in/dQjYSFb8...) and some of the key findings from this yearlong investigation into regional perspectives on space policy and international engagement. 

Read the column about EU´s space policy now as the Union is in a transition phase and the discussions to ensure the EU's space capabilities will continue.

In "GEOINT and Space Situational Awareness (SSA): Part 2 – Do the Cultures Align?", Professor Emeritus Todd S. Bacastow, Geospatial Intelligence Authority, Penn State University, explores whether the culture of GEOINT aligns with the evolving needs of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM). 🚀 Click here to download the full blog: https://lnkd.in/eAujP36k Building on the first article of his series, Bacastow examines how GEOINT's cultural strengths—such as spatial data analysis, legal governance expertise, commercialisation, and collaboration—can be applied to the outer space domain. Bacastow highlights GEOINT’s foundational culture of spatial analysis and international cooperation, arguing that these elements position it well to manage the increasing complexity of space operations, especially in light of growing commercial involvement and international partnerships. The blog also emphasises how space-based systems, notably during the Russo-Ukrainian War, have become critical, showcasing the integration of commercial technologies like Starlink and MAXAR. The central question posed is whether GEOINT’s culture has the "secret sauce" to advance SSA and STM, ensuring alignment with the growing demands of space governance and security. This ongoing discussion will continue at DGI 2025 in February at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London! #DGI #DGI2025 #GeospatialIntelligence #GIS #Security

📖 Reading List - Space and Geopolitics There are complicated issues with the geopolitics of space, and it deals with everything from markets to sovereignty. As humanity continues to pursue space travel, they will need to contend with typical human experiences in outer space, including power politics. The following readings look at the geopolitics of space, a relatively novel concept, but also connected issues corporations and security professionals need to understand as they contend with emerging technologies and new business models. 📄 Articles Critical Geopolitics of Outer Space by Julie Michelle Klinger (Geopolitics) https://lnkd.in/durAXPvt   The geopolitical space race – with Tim Marshall (RUSI) https://lnkd.in/dTWcbbDE   The role of space power in geopolitical competition (Council of Geostrategy) https://lnkd.in/ewv9vf9b   Critical Astropolitics: The geopolitics of space control and the transformation of state sovereignty https://lnkd.in/dxKsQanT   Environmental Geopolitics and Outer Space (Geopolitics) https://lnkd.in/dwf7tX7W   Space Power and Europe in the 21st Century (ETH Zurich) https://lnkd.in/dchswVig   Space Weaponization (Air University) https://lnkd.in/dmnPkHt5   Space as a Warfighting Domain (CRS) https://lnkd.in/d6zjZmHB   Global Counterspace Capabilities Report (Secure World Foundation) https://lnkd.in/gJVh4Kd3 Lost in Space: An Exploration of Current Gaps in Space Law (Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law) https://lnkd.in/dyT9w_Pe   Futures of Deep Space Exploration, Commercialization, and Colonization (NASA) https://lnkd.in/dQEuPnv3   How Space Debris Threatens Modern Life (Financial Times) https://lnkd.in/eaBTg4gD   🎧 Podcast War is Space (RUSI) https://lnkd.in/dw3Tfx_H