UNIDIR’s Outer Space Security Conference

UNIDIR’s Outer Space Security Conference 2025 took place on 9–10 September in a hybrid format at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and online.

Held as a flagship event, the conference discussed emerging technologies and their impact on space security, evolving approaches to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, the security of cislunar space, strategic unpredictability in the space domain, and the roles and responsibilities of commercial actors.

Watch the full conference on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Outer Space Security Conference 2024 took place on 10–11 September in a hybrid format at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and online.

The conference examined mapping threats and risks to space security, the thresholds of prohibited action in space, multilateral efforts to build space security, transparency and confidence-building measures, and verification and monitoring tools for space security.

Watch the full conference on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Outer Space Security Conference 2023 took place on 13–14 September in a hybrid format at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and online.

On its 20th edition, the conference took stock of multilateral efforts to build space security, discussed preparing for success in future multilateral space security initiatives, practical tools to facilitate space security, safety and sustainability, the importance of global diversity, inclusiveness and multilateralism, and building common understandings between stakeholders.

Watch the full conference on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Outer Space Security Conference 2022 took place on 1–2 November in a hybrid format at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and online.

The conference covered the space domain and space systems, past, present and future efforts towards the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the need for diversity in achieving it, the intersection between outer space and other domains, and the pursuit of common understanding on space security.

Watch the full conference on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Outer Space Security Conference 2021 took place on 27–28 September in a hybrid format at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and online.

The conference addressed how the space domain has evolved since the Outer Space Treaty entered into force, space threats and challenges, the dual-use nature of space assets, non-binding norms and transparency and confidence-building measures, legally binding measures, verification mechanisms, and the role of non-governmental entities in wider space governance.

Watch the full conference on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2019 took place on 28–29 May, under the theme “Supporting Diplomacy: Clearing the Path for Dialogue”, in a hybrid format at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and online.

The conference took stock of multilateral processes on space security, the emergence of dedicated military space forces, dual-use challenges in rocket and missile technology, monitoring and evidence-gathering in orbit, and next steps for multilateral dialogue.

Watch the full conference on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2018 took place on 7-8 May, under the theme “Space Security: The Next Chapter”, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The conference discussed national and regional approaches to space security, the maturing space economy, whether existing rules and practices remain fit for purpose, emerging challenges such as quantum communications and military outsourcing, and viable steps forward on the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

Watch the speaker interviews on YouTube and read the report.

UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2017 took place on 20–21 April, under the theme “Celebrating the Outer Space Treaty: 50 Years of Space Governance and Stability”, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The conference covered national and regional approaches to space security, foundational concepts of space security and stability, the next generation of space activities such as debris removal and resource extraction, multilateral initiatives including the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and the International Code of Conduct.

Read the conference report.

UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2016 took place on 28–29 April, under the theme “Sustaining the Momentum: The Current Status of Space Security”, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The conference examined national perspectives on space security, foundational concepts such as space debris and space weapons, current status updates on multilateral initiatives and the roles of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the International Telecommunication Union in the wider space security regime.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2015 took place on 24–25 August, under the theme “Underpinning Foundations of Space Security”, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The conference discussed national approaches to space security, foundational concepts such as self-defence and the definition of space weapons, the roles of UN bodies in coordinating space governance, and status updates on current initiatives including the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and the International Code of Conduct.

Read the conference report.

UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2014 took place on 19–20 March, under the theme “The Evolving Space Security Regime: Implementation, Compliance, and New Initiatives”, in Geneva.

The conference covered national perspectives on space security, foundational policy issues such as anti-satellite weapons and radio frequency interference, international space security measures including the space debris mitigation guidelines and the work of the Group of Governmental Experts, status updates on the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and the International Code of Conduct, and NGO perspectives on advancing space security.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2013 took place on 2–3 April, under the theme “Enhancing Confidence, Securing Space Stability”, in Geneva.

The conference explored current vulnerabilities in outer space, multilateral non-binding initiatives on transparency and confidence-building measures, lessons from the commercial space sector, the comprehensiveness of existing legal frameworks, and the potential contributions of civil and commercial actors to future cooperative approaches.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2012 took place on 29–30 March, under the theme “Laying the Groundwork for Progress”, in Geneva.

On it’s 10th edition, the conference discussed the growing international consensus on space sustainability, the many diverging paths forward including the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, the International Code of Conduct and the upcoming Group of Governmental Experts on transparency and confidence-building measures, and technical considerations such as radio frequency interference, space situational awareness and active debris removal.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2011 took place on 4–5 April, under the theme “Building on the Past, Stepping towards the Future”, in Geneva.

The conference reviewed current and emerging threats in the space domain and ongoing efforts to address them, the technical aspects of ensuring space security, the necessity and benefits of cooperation among the growing range of space actors, and the engagement needed to sustain the long-term safety and accessibility of outer space.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2010 took place on 29–30 March, under the theme “From Foundations to Negotiations”, in Geneva.

The conference examined the technological constraints and opportunities for a space security regime, the latest developments in efforts by multilateral, governmental, academic and industrial organizations to address different pieces of the space security puzzle, and the lessons previous arms control and confidence-building negotiations might offer for future instruments to secure space.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2009 took place on 15–16 June, under the theme “Moving towards a Safer Space Environment”, in Geneva.

The conference explored architectures for improving space security, ensuring space sustainability through confidence- and security-building measures, elements of treaty-based security, international law and space security, and emerging issues for space sustainability.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2008 took place on 31 March–1 April, under the theme “Security in Space: The Next Generation”, in Geneva.

The conference addressed ways to build trust in space activities and move from confrontation to cooperation to increase space security and improve access to outer space for peaceful uses, with particular attention to the need for new international legal instruments, including the China–Russia proposal for a treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, the threat or use of force against outer space objects.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2007 took place on 2–3 April, under the theme “Celebrating the Space Age: 50 Years of Space Technology, 40 Years of the Outer Space Treaty”, in Geneva.

The conference marked the 40th anniversary of the Outer Space Treaty and the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik I, examining the growing dependence of developed and developing countries alike on space-based assets, the emergence of new civil and military actors transforming the use of outer space, and the challenge of preserving both the security of space-based objects and unrestricted access to outer space for all nations.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2006 took place on 30–31 March, under the theme “Building the Architecture for Sustainable Space Security”, in Geneva.

The conference examined current threats to the peaceful uses of outer space, both technological and political/military in origin, and weighed them against the potential for a rules-based approach to space security, such as a code of conduct, space asset security and debris mitigation. It also considered the role of international instruments, including the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the Outer Space Treaty, the possible development of confidence-building measures and their implications for a future ban on space weapons, and the role of public awareness and advocacy in shaping governmental policy.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2005 took place on 21–22 March, under the theme “Safeguarding Space Security: Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space”, in Geneva.

The conference discussed new developments and challenges to space security, the relevance and urgency of preventing the weaponization of outer space, elements of national and multilateral instruments for regulating weapons in space, space surveillance, monitoring and compliance mechanisms, and the road ahead for advancing an international agreement on the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

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UNIDIR’s Space Security Conference 2004 took place on 25–26 March, under the theme “Safeguarding Space for All: Security and Peaceful Uses”, in Geneva.

The event built on UNIDIR’s Outer Space and Global Security Conference 2002, presenting a holistic framework for thinking about security in space that encompassed the wide range of peaceful uses of outer space alongside the threats that could jeopardize a secure space environment, with participants working to identify practical steps policymakers could take to safeguard space for peaceful use by all.

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UNIDIR’s inaugural Outer Space and Global Security Conference took place on 26–27 November in Geneva.

Held as the first conference in what would become UNIDIR’s flagship annual space security series, it examined the current and future uses of outer space, assessed ways to prevent the deployment or use of weapons in, from and against outer space, and explored  both practical confidence-building measures and longer-term strategies to strengthen space security.

Read the conference report.