Areas of expertise include: outer space law and policy, space security, emerging technology threats, international law, political science

Brief Background and Contributions to UNIDIR

As the Space Security Fellow, Daniel Porras focuses on political/legal issues surrounding space security and, in particular, the progressive development of sustainable norms of behaviour for space. He conducts research on emerging technology threats to strategic stability in the outer space theatre and makes recommendations on possible paths towards space stability. Mr Porras is the resident technical expert for multiple UN bodies working on space security issues. He also advises governments, academia and commercial actors on security related issues such as the development of counterspace technology and the application of international law to space activities. He holds an LLM in International Economics Law from Georgetown University Law Center, as well as a JD from the California Western School of Law and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Baylor University. 

Recent Publications and Current Projects 

• Developing ASAT Test Guidelines: No Debris, Low Debris, Notification (Int’l Astro Congress - October 2018)
• ASAT Test Guidelines: a viable option to implement TCBMs (ORF Space Alerts – August 2018) 
• Update on UN Efforts on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (SpaceWatchGlobal Op’Ed - June 2018) 
• A Brief History of the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (Conference on Disarmament - June 2018)
• Space Dossier 2: Toward ASAT Test Guidelines (UNIDIR - May 2018)