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Advancing space in the Middle East | Saudi Space Agency

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐀 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 Like most sustainability topics, we realise that time is ticking (also see Darren's and Aarti's comments below). As the Summit for Space Sustainability (Tokyo 11-12 July 2024) is coming to a close, some of my observations: 1. 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 LeoLabs: The global space community is running out of time to gracefully transition from the current world of reliable LEO space operations to an environment where mission lifetimes are routinely curtailed due to orbital debris impacts. 2. 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀'𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: In Pamela Melroy's keynote, she brought up the fact that NASA works in various disparate offices on space sustainability. Recent efforts (Space Sustainability strategy in comments) are efforts to overcome this issue. 3. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Similar to NASA's disparity in technical efforts to tackle space sustainability, we see various regulatory bodies in the US, with the FCC, FAA, NOAA all regulating different parts of space exploration. Gabriel Swiney brought up yesterday that it is important to have more clarity who regulates what, and where authority lies. On this topic: linking article in comments of recent Loper Bright case and what it could mean to upend the regulatory landscape in US. 4. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Wahyudi Hasbi brought up that basic information sharing is essential and has real-world consequences, echoing points from Juli Lawless yesterday. Repeatedly, Indonesia has had rocket bodies from various states fall in their territories without prior notice. Wahyudi Hasbi complemented ISRO for always giving prior notice, even when a launch has a potential passover 5. 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡: current demographics in space debris show that most debris is only from a handful of nations. However, if we really want to move forward we have to get past the fault-based approach, says Chuck Dickey. Sharing the cost for cleanup should be pro-rated in future efforts. Every country has an interest in continuing space exploration, lets focus on that. 6. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 - Aarti Holla-Maini from United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA): From an inter-gov perspective, we must reach consensus on what success and sustainability means. Time is of the essence, but still work needs to be done to fully unpack the issues and achieve a shared understanding. 7. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, there are several important events coming up regarding space sustainability: 20-21 September 2024 - The UN Summit of the Future 8-11 October 2024 - Clean Space Days 10. 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭: Lots of due celebration for Astroscale's ADRAS-J mission, credit for the post image to Astroscale for that

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Harald Luiks

Advancing space in the Middle East | Saudi Space Agency

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