The 2024 Outer Space Security Conference (OS24) provided a unique forum for the diplomatic community, along with experts from the military, industry, civil society and academia to jointly consider challenges and solutions related to security in outer space.
As space technology becomes increasingly critical to modern life on Earth, ensuring the security of outer space is paramount. Advances in new technology and the growing threats they may pose to the security of space systems raise serious concerns. With the rising importance of outer space for States and individuals alike, it is essential to maintain its security.
The international community has undertaken several multilateral efforts to address the complex threats and risks to and from space systems, and further multilateral processes are envisaged around space security and the prevention of an arms race in outer space in the future.
The 2024 Outer Space Security Conference brought together a diverse set of perspectives to take stock of these past initiatives and explore a range of different tools and processes designed to enhance space security and support the international community as it works to prevent an arms race in outer space (PAROS).
The 2024 Outer Space Security Conference provided to be an invaluable event for delving into these critical issues, exploring these topics and more this upcoming autumn, as we collectively work towards enhancing the security of outer space for all.
EVENT RECORDINGS
Watch the recordings of this event on our YouTube channel, or via the playlist below.
AGENDA: DAY 1
10:00 – 10:30 CEST – Morning Refreshments
10:30 – 11:00 CEST – Conference Opening
Opening Remarks
- Robin Geiss (Director, UNIDIR)
Keynote Address
- Yi Soyeon (Astronaut)
11:00 – 12:30 CEST— Panel I — Mapping Threats and Risks to Space Security – a Technical and Political Perspective
As space becomes ever more contested and congested, the danger of accidental, deliberate or natural incidents is likely to increase significantly. Space systems face multiple challenges which have to be properly understood in order to be effectively mitigated. These challenges range from solar flares to the placement of weapons in outer space; the use of counterspace capabilities; the use of space capabilities for hybrid or aggressive activities and the threat or use of force in outer space, from outer space, towards outer space or against space systems and their components. This panel provided a technical and political perspective on the spectrum of dangers to space assets and personnel, discussed the challenge of distinguishing between risks and threats in space and the potential for grey zone activities to create instability, and examined the consequences of space dangers, including in terms of driving arms racing and increasing the risk of escalation both in space and on Earth.
Speakers
- Andrey Yurievich Malov (Senior Expert, Centre for Military and Political Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO))
- Éric Cézzane Cólen Guedes (Chief, Space Operations Center, Brazilian Air Force)
- Jessie Ndaba (Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Astrofica Technologies)
- Russell Boyce (Managing Director, Mission Assurance)
- Shen Jian (Deputy Permanent Representative and Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland)
Moderator
- Victoria Samson (Chief Director, Space Security and Stability for Secure World Foundation)
12:30 – 13:30 CEST – Lunch Break
13:30 – 15:00 CEST — Panel II — Space Security Dos and Don’ts – the Thresholds of Prohibited Action in Space
The concept of the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) emerged due to the limited space security-specific provisions in existing UN space treaties, particularly the Outer Space Treaty. Since its emergence, PAROS has served as the umbrella under which multilateral discussions are conducted regarding the establishment of relevant mechanisms to ensure space security. Understanding the international principles and regulations that already exist in international law from a security perspective, as well as the gaps and limitations, can aid in consolidating and reinforcing this regime as the international community continues to explore initiatives for PAROS. This panel looked at the existing regime in order to consider how to facilitate its effective implementation and address any additional missing gaps that need to be filled.
Speakers
- Andrey Belousov (Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva)
- Erin Pobjie (Assistant Professor, Essex Law School and Senior Research Affiliate, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law)
- Jessica Tok (Senior Space Multilateral Affairs Advisor, Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Space Policy)
- Jinyuan Su (Professor, Wuhan University Institute of International Law)
- Julia Selman-Ayetey (Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Coast and Partner, Ashong Benjamin & Associates)
Moderator
- Sarah Erickson (Research Assistant, Space Security and WMD Programmes, UNIDIR)
15:00 – 15:30 CEST – Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:00 CEST — Panel III — Multilateral Efforts to Build Space Security – What Has Been Done and What Is Next
In recent years, many different mechanisms and processes have been proposed to address space security concerns and to achieve the goals of PAROS. Illustrative examples include the 2023 OEWG established by UNGA Resolution 76/231, “Reducing Space Threats through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviours”, the 2019 and 2024 GGEs established by UNGA Resolutions 72/250 and 77/250, respectively, on “Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space”, and the 2013 GGE established by UNGA Resolution 65/68 on “Transparency and Confidence-building Measures in Outer Space Activities”. This panel analyzed such initiatives and considered the impact of these measures for future steps to achieve space security and prevent an arms race in outer space, particularly as the international community prepares to embark on two new OEWG processes.
Speakers
- Bassem Hassan (Ambassador, Director of the Department of Disarmament and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and Chair GGE on Further Practical Measures on PAROS)
- Clive Hughes (Head of Space Security and Advanced Threats, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and UK expert to the GGE on Further Practical Measures on PAROS)
- Marjolijn van Deelen (EU Special Envoy for Space, European External Action Service)
- Noelle Riza Castillo (Director, Space Policy and International Cooperation Bureau, Philippine Space Agency and Philippines expert to the GGE on Further Practical Measures on PAROS)
- Sergey Belousko (Special Coordinator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for the International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space)
Moderator
- Almudena Azcárate Ortega (Researcher, Space Security and WMD Programmes, UNIDIR)
18:00 – 21:30 CEST – Reception
AGENDA: DAY 2
10:00 – 10:30 CEST – Morning Refreshments
10:30 – 11:00 CEST – OS24 Youth Video Competition – Winners’ videos premiere
11:00 – 12:30 CEST — Panel IV — Space Sustainability for All – The Links Between Space Security and Space Safety
The increasingly crowded and congested nature of outer space, due to factors such as the increasing number of space actors, assets, and debris-causing activities, creates a growing risk to the long-term sustainability of outer space. The situation is further aggravated by the ambiguity posed by the dual nature of space technologies and their potential role in contemporary conflict scenarios. All these challenges can endanger the safety and security of the outer space environment and space operations for generations to come. This panel looked at the relationship between safety and security, highlighting how both are interconnected and impact space sustainability. Panellists considered how multilateral discussions in their respective fora can be carried out in a complementary manner so as to jointly achieve space sustainability.
Speakers
- Andrew Peebles (External Relations Officer, UN Office for Outer Space Affairs)
- Chris Blackerby (Chief Operating Officer, Astroscale)
- Vasily Gudnov (Head of Multilateral Cooperation Division, State Space Corporation (Roscosmos))
- Victoria Fernanda Valdivia Cerda (Global Fellow, European Space Policy Institute and Professor, Academia Nacional de Estudios Políticos y Estratégicos (ANEPE))
Moderator
- Jessica West (Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation)
12:30 – 13:30 CEST – Lunch Break
13:30 – 15:00 CEST — Panel V — Shining a Light on Space Activities – Clarity and Transparency for Peace and Security
In order to ensure and maintain space as a secure and peaceful environment, it is necessary to foster transparent space activities to reduce ambiguity and uncertainty around intentions behind space activities. The practical implementation of TCBMs in outer space activities has been proposed in several multilateral forums, including the 2013 GGE on TCBMs and the UN Disarmament Commission. Greater transparency could be achieved through the clarification of terminology and the sharing of policies, doctrines and data in order to foster space security, with the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space. This panel analyzed the opportunities and limitations of existing tools and frameworks in generating transparency, and considered areas where States could develop new transparency and confidence-building measures as well as new incentives to implement and report on existing TCBMs.
Speakers
- Emmanuelle Maitre (Research Fellow, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique)
- Emma Gatti (Editor in Chief, SpaceWatch.Global)
- Felipe Cousiño (Ambassador of Chile to Denmark and Chilean expert to the GGE on Further Practical Measures on PAROS)
- Madin Maseeh (President, Maldives Space Research Organisation)
Moderator
- Victoria Samson (Chief Director, Space Security and Stability for Secure World Foundation)
15:00 – 15:30 CEST – Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:00 CEST — Panel VI — A Verification and Monitoring Toolbox for Space Security
Verification and monitoring have long been an important and often complex topic in arms control and disarmament measures, including those related to space. This panel explored the opportunities presented by new technologies and tools for monitoring and verification of space activities, as well as some of the technical, political, and financial challenges to verification.
Speakers
- Darren McKnight (Senior Technical Fellow, LeoLabs)
- Hugo André Costa (Executive Board Member, Portuguese Space Agency)
- Sarah Erickson (Research Assistant, Space Security and WMD Programmes, UNIDIR)
- Thomas González Roberts (Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology)
Moderator
- Almudena Azcárate Ortega (Researcher, Space Security and WMD Programmes, UNIDIR)
Concluding remarks
For any questions, please contact almudena.azcarate@un.org