Welcome to Secure World Foundation

Upcoming Events

SWF staff will be organizing, chairing and moderating sessions, and presenting papers at the AIAA 2010 Space Conference and Exposition's 28th AIAA International Communications Satellite Systems Conference (ICSSC-2010).

When: August 30 to September 2, 2010
Where: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California

Recent News

SWF has released a new report and executive summary that examine the success of the U.S. and Canadian partnership in the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command and draws lessons from the NORAD experience to help inform future efforts on the sharing of space surveillance information.

From a Distance: Citizen Science and Community Remote Sensing. Community Remote Sensing is a new field that combines remote sensing with citizen science, social networks, and crowd-sourcing to enhance the data obtained from traditional sources. It includes the collection, calibration, analysis, communication, or application of remotely sensed information by these community means.

Nearly 100 decision-makers and senior experts on disaster-risk management from African countries, Europe, the Middle East and America met July 6-9 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This notable gathering of officials was organized by the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response, known as UN-SPIDER together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) with support of the Government of Austria and in cooperation with Secure World Foundation. Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, space policy consultant for Secure World Foundation (SWF) represented the Foundation and addressed the participants with a key note presentation in the four-day meeting: "Building upon Regional Space-based Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency Response for Africa." Disasters Roundtable, held July 8 by The National Academies in Washington, D.C.

A future look into the unrealized potential of remotely sensed data for pre-, during, and post-disaster scenarios was detailed by Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of Secure World Foundation during a Disasters Roundtable, held July 8 by The National Academies in Washington, D.C.

On June 28, 2010, the Obama administration released the new National Space Policy. The document dramatically revises longstanding U.S. policy by expanding its emphasis on international cooperation and cooperative initiatives; it also expresses a strong willingness to consider arms control measures for space activities. SWF and the Arms Control Association (ACA) hosted a panel discussion on July 1, 2010, that examined how this NSP matches up with previous ones and what it means for future efforts to ensure the sustainable use of space. Panelists were Marcia Smith, founder and editor of SpacePolicyOnline.com and President of Space and Technology Policy Group, LLC; Ben Baseley-Walker, Legal and Policy Advisor, SWF; and Bruce MacDonald, Senior Director, Nonproliferation and Arms Control Project, the United States Institute of Peace. For a transcript of the event, please visit here.

Secure World Foundation Examines New National Space Policy
Secure World Foundation (SWF) salutes President Obama’s new National Space Policy. The Administration’s policy reflects a highly pragmatic approach to the international space regime that substantially enhances the long-term national security interests of the United States in space.

Leonard David, SWF Research Associate, was selected for a National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Journalism Fellowship. The Journalism Fellows took part in a June 14-18 weeklong set of briefings that detailed NCAR’s research on a wide array of topics, from climate studies, satellite remote sensing and computer modeling to policy-making, as well as touring several of NCAR’s scientific facilities.

Experts Available: White House to Release National Space Policy
Experts are available to comment upon the White House release of a new U.S. National Space Policy (NSP) - one that establishes an overarching national policy that governs the conduct of U.S. civil, commercial and military use of space.

Dealing with the troublesome trend in the growth of Earth-circling orbital debris is a major element to ensure the sustainability of space. Moreover, human and environmental security can be maximized by global cooperative use of space systems to benefit all of humanity. These were among the topics highlighted by Secure World Foundation (SWF) during the Fifty-third Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), held June 9-18 in Vienna, Austria.

SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden has a new article entitled "A Time for Choices: Securing NATO’s Space Capabilities" which analyzes the impact of space security on NATO’s ability to use space power. The article was published in the Summer Edition of Transforming Joint Air Power, the journal of NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Center (JAPCC). Read more now.

Dr. Ray A. Williamson, Executive Director, Secure World Foundation presents "Exchange of Views Statement" to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Read more now.

SWF PARTICIPATES IN WORKSHOP: "TOWARDS A NATIONAL SPACE STRATEGY"
Secure World Foundation partnered with Astroconsulting International, the George Washington University's Space Policy Institute (SPI) and the National Space Studies Center (NSSC) to produce "Towards a National Space Strategy." Dr. Eligar Sadeh served as Principle Investigator and Editor with support from cooperating investigators Dr. Ray Williamson (SWF), Brian Weeden (SWF), Victoria Samson (SWF), Scott Pace (SPI), John Sheldon (NSSC) and Tom James (NSSC). Read the executive summary here, or download the full report here.

SWF Technical Advisor Brian Weeden has published a new article on Galaxy 15, a failed geosynchronous satellite which could cause interference with operational satellites. This article,"Dealing with Galaxy 15: Zombiesats and On-Orbit Servicing"talks about the reasons why Galaxy 15 is an issue and suggests solutions for tackling similar future problems.

Experts Forecast 2010 and Future Space Law and Policy Issues
Leading authorities attending Space Law and Policy 2010 explored varied uses of outer space, as well as present-day and future legal and policy challenges - to international institutions, commercial enterprises, and the U.S. government.

Secure World Foundation has released a fact sheet
on the X-37B spaceplane program, which analyzes the various proposed missions for the X-37B. The Fact Sheet concludes that the most likely use of the X-37B is as a flexible, quick-response space-based surveillance asset and as a platform to flight-test new space hardware and sensors. It could also serve as a responsive launch vehicle to place small payloads in low Earth orbit on short notice. The report concludes that it is not feasible for the X-37B to serve as a spacebomber or as a platform for launching “rods from gods”.

Steps Toward a Latin American Space Policy
A recent seminar has called attention to progressive steps that are being taken in shaping a Latin American national space policy, one that unifies various space efforts throughout the region.

Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director of the Secure WorldFoundation, explains in "India's Missile Defense/Anti-satellite Nexus" how India's interest in developing anti-satellite weapons (ASATs) has attracted very little notice. Her analysis in the latest issue of The Space Review examines enthusiastic statements by Indian officials about what they see as the need for ASATs and the possible connection the country’s continued missile defense efforts may have in developing those capabilities.

The Secure World Foundation announces the release of a new booklet entitled "Space Sustainability: A Practical Guide" for immediate download. The booklet provide a comprehensive overview of the current challenges facing continued use of outer space, including space debris and orbital crowding, and explains why efforts which ensure the long-term sustainability of the space environment are critical to ensuring that humanity can continue to derive benefit from Earth orbit. The booklet also provides an in-depth explanation of the current governance, policy, and legal structures which guide our activities in space.

Secure World Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of a Deputy Director, James Rendleman, bringing to the Foundation a wide variety of science and technology, engineering, management, and space policy skills. Rendleman is retired from the U.S. Air Force, bringing to Secure World Foundation a rich background of expertise given his positions within Air Force laboratories, the national security space acquisition community, Air Force Space Command and the Air Staff.

Youth Contributions to the Debate on Space Security chapter, The Fair and Responsible Use of Space, Studies in Space Policy, Vol. 4, Spring 2010” , has been released. Edited by ESPI's Kai-Uwe Schrogl and Wolfgang Rathgeber and SWF's Executive Ray Williamson; published by SpringerWienNewYork. It provides a new comprehensive evaluation on how to achieve the sustainable use of space by means of respecting fairness and responsibility. Also contributing to the book, Ben Baseley-Walker, SWF’s Legal and Policy Advisor and Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, SWF's Space Policy Consultant for the Secure World Foundation."

Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director of the Secure World Foundation, was recently a guest speaker on Democracy Now where she spoke about Obama's New Space Exploration plan, and other important issues, including space congestion and safety. Democracy Now is a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 800 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the U.S. Listen to the show now:   

Secure World Foundation partnered with Astroconsulting International, the George Washington University's Space Policy Institute (SPI) and the National Space Studies Center (NSSC) to produce "Towards a National Space Strategy." Dr. Eligar Sadeh served as Principle Investigator and Editor with support from cooperating investigators Dr. Ray Willaimson (SWF), Brian Weeden (SWF), Victoria Samson (SWF), Scott Pace (SPI), John Sheldon (NSSC) and Tom Jones (NSSC). Read the executive summary here, or download the full report here.