The future of space is increasingly cooperative and collaborative – within and between countries and between government entities and private companies. This key message has been embedded in so many across session, panels and talks throughout the week at the #COSPAR24 45 Scientific Assembly in Busan, South Korea, but was nowhere clearer than during the Space Agency Leader’s Roundtable, moderated by COSPAR President Pascale Ehrenfreund and General Counsel Niklas Hedman. The last decade has seen the community of spacefaring organisations expand dramatically. The Roundtable included leaders from seven agencies, including the world’s newest: Youngbin Yoon of our host country’s Korean AeroSpace Agency🇰🇷. The panel also featured Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi of UAE Space Agency🇦🇪, Anil Bhardwaj of Physical Research Laboratory🇮🇳, Li Guoping of CNSA🇨🇳, Hitoshi Kuninaka of JAXA🇯🇵, Pamela Melroy of NASA🇺🇸 and Mugnuolo Raffaele of ASI🇮🇹. Interagency cooperation came up repeatedly, but was most focused when an audience member asked about the sustainability of the Moon. Throughout their prepared remarks, most of the leaders had mentioned plans for lunar missions, making it clear the Moon will soon be a busy place – including even more missions planned by commercial entities. Two key solutions were mentioned: 1. Communication systems so that missions, both on the ground and in orbit, can be aware of each other’s position 2. Preserving areas of particular importance, either scientifically or for their historical or aesthetic nature COSPAR was noted as the perfectly placed organisation to help support both these remits, based upon our present projects and expertise. The second crosscutting theme was the expansion of the space ecosystem. Launches and mission hardware have never been cheaper. Besides adding new countries to the community of spacefaring nations, it is transforming the sector by including dozens of private companies, universities and other research organisations. Every country represented was working to increase the space ecosystem, including existing large-scale companies and start-ups, and even venture capitalists keen to make use of the unique expertise that COSPAR can make available. Of course, these companies are also here at COSPAR, contributing to the scientific sessions, industry panels and filling the exhibition space. Their enthusiasm, ambitions, goals and innovative spirits are a testament to human ingenuity – but also to the governments encouraging their growth. If we were to summarise what was said during the Roundtable, it would be to fall back on an often-repeated proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. #SpaceResearch #NewSpace #ToTheMoon #ScienceDiplomacy Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization UAE Space Agency Agenzia Spaziale Italiana JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
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