NSO report: innovative technology can promote responsible use of space
Space is being used more and more intensively by many countries. How can we make sure that all these countries behave responsibly in space? This can be done with the help of space surveillance and tracking (SST), according to a report that the NSO published this week.
Air traffic around Schiphol Airport is carefully followed by radar systems. In this way, air traffic control knows exactly which plane takes off when, and where arriving planes are. In a similar way, we can use radar and other instruments to create an overview of space: space situational awareness (SSA). Which satellites are orbiting the Earth? And are they all moving as expected?
Artist impression van ruimtepuin
Most satellite missions are peaceful and make our lives on Earth easier, safer and more efficient. Think of satellites for navigation, communication and Earth observation. But it is not unthinkable that countries will also use space for less peaceful purposes. For example, to position or support weapons, to deliberately create space debris, or to push satellites out of orbit or make them useless. Countries can also be negligent, for example by leaving geostationary satellites uncontrolled after their lifetime, instead of moving them to a so-called graveyard orbit.
All these topics are discussed at the UN level during the UNIDIR Outer Space Security Conference on 9 and 10 September in Geneva. The NSO uses the conference to present the report SSA for Verification, feasibility study on the use of space surveillance and tracking (SST) for the verification of responsible behaviour in outer space. It describes technical options to monitor activities in space and makes several recommendations. The main one is aimed at the international community: start the conversation about this maybe sensitive, but important topic, and make good agreements, so that we can prevent an arms race in space.
The Netherlands has for some time spoken out in favour of a clear legal framework that all users of space must follow (mission 6 in the Long-term Space Agenda). Such a framework starts with good agreements about what is and is not allowed in space. After that, instruments based on radar and laser technology can help to verify whether countries are respecting the agreements. The report SSA for Verification shows the possibilities in this area, and the role the Netherlands could play, for the first time in a concrete way.
Want to read more?
See the report here .