Atsushi SAITO Director, Space Policy Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan March 2nd, 2017

1

Concept/Definitions 1. International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Cosmic Study on Space Traffic Management (2006):

“Space traffic management means the set of technical and regulatory provisions for promoting safe access into outer space, operations in outer space and return from outer space to Earth free from physical or radio-frequency interference.“

2. Report of the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee (April 2016):

"Some delegations expressed the view that space traffic management could be defined as a set of technical and regulatory provisions promoting the safety of access to, operations in and return from outer space, free from physical or radio-frequency interference.“

3. UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) (2015 Press Release):

“Space traffic management, which is a set of technical and regulatory provisions for ensuring safe access into, operations in and return from outer space to Earth.."

2

Interpretation Technical and regulatory provisions for

ensuring safe access into, operation in and return from outer space to Earth.

In this regard, this is not only for technical matters,

but also should be based on principles and norms on responsible behavior in Outer space.

3

Increasing number of space-utilizing actors, including emerging economies and private sector Increase in space debris, including from ASAT tests

Number of space faring nations Smallsats / Microsats, including large Constellations New Suborbital activities (e.g. Suborbital Flights) New unmanned on-orbit services (e.g. Satellite maintenance, Active

Debris Removal) New manned on-orbit services (e.g. Space tourism, Space hotel)

4

Increased vulnerability and risks involved in Outer Space activities

Background

Current situation

Launch

On-orbit activities

Re-entry

Related issues

5

Outer Space Treaty (ex. Article. 6. Requirement of authorization and continuing supervision by States, Article. 9. Avoidance of harmful contamination and pre-consultation by potential harmful interference) Liability Convention (Liability of “launching States”) Soft Laws such as; IADC Space Debris Guidelines / UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (e.g. avoid intentional destruction and other harmful activities, removing non-operational spacecrafts)

6

All phases :

Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) Pre-launch notification with regard to control/disarmament

Pre-notifications to related international agencies (IMO, ICAO)

Registration Convention (Obligation of registration of Space Objects) ISS Intergovernmental Agreement (Rules on human space activities) ITU Radio Regulations (coordinating radio communications and the use of GEO) Rescue and Return Agreement (Rescue of Astronauts and Return of objects) Pre-notifications to related international agencies (IMO, ICAO) Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space

Re-entry:

On-orbit activities:

Launch:

8

No integrated international SSA information sharing, conjunction assessment and collision avoidance system (including Space weather)

Ambiguity regarding Responsibility (“Launching States” problem)

Necessity of delimitation of air and space or integrated air-space traffic control system No Integrated system for pre-notification and info-sharing

Launch and Re-entry:

All phases :

9

No concrete rules with regard to restrictions on the intentional destruction or damaging of space objects, including ASAT tests No rules on technical and concrete procedures with regard to avoidance of dangerous conjunctions or collisions No rules on jurisdiction with regard to non-registered space objects

On-orbit activities :

Japan’s Contribution as the G7 Chair (G7 Statement on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, Hiroshima, Japan April 11, 2016 )

1. The need to evolve and implement principles of responsible behavior for all outer space activities in a prompt and pragmatic manner 2. Take appropriate measures to cooperate in good faith to avoid harmful interference

with outer space activities 3. Refrain from any action which brings about damage, or destruction, of space objects 4. Implement TCBMs, such as information exchange on space policies, information

exchange and notifications related to outer space activities in a timely manner, and an effective consultation mechanism.

International Code of Conduct (ICOC) Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and LTS Guidelines

10

Initiatives:

Enhancing safety, security and sustainability of outer space activities Addressing outer space activities involving all space objects launched by states, or by non-governmental entities Participating in international discussions Refraining from destruction of space objects Taking measures to minimize the risk of collision Limiting all activities which may generate long-lived space debris Notifications of outer space activities

Conjunctions, Launch, Collisions and break-ups, High-risk re-entry events, Malfunction… Sharing information on outer space activities

“timely information on outer space environmental conditions and space weather forecasts…collected through their SSA capabilities”

Consultation mechanism

STM-related factors:

Purpose and Scope:

Status:

11

12

Enhancing the long-term sustainability of outer space activities For States, international organizations, national non-governmental organizations and private sector entities Various topics (Space debris, Space weather, Space operations, SSA, etc.)

Under discussion in COPUOS since 2011 Several guidelines agreed in June 2016 Workplan extended to 2018

Purpose and Scope:

Status:

Guideline 6: Enhance the practice of registering space objects Guideline 11: Provide updated contact information and share information on space objects and orbital events Guideline 14: Perform conjunction assessment during all orbital phases of controlled flight Guideline 15: Develop practical approaches for pre-launch assessment of possible conjunctions of newly launched

space objects with space objects already present in near-Earth space Guideline 31: [Comply with procedures for mitigating][Mitigate] risks associated with the uncontrolled re-entry of

space objects

13

Agreed (STM-Related)

Still Under Discussion (STM-Related)

Guideline 3：Supervise national space activities Guideline 4：Ensure the equitable, rational and efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum and the various

orbital regions used by satellites Guideline 12:Improve accuracy of orbital data on space objects and enhance the practice and utility of sharing

orbital information on space objects Guideline 13:Promote the collection, sharing and dissemination of space debris monitoring information

Awareness raising through Capacity building activities in developing countries regarding the importance of international “rule-making”

in order to realize the “Implementation and strengthening of the rule of law” in Outer space The “Outline of Basic Objectives for Capacity-Building with regards to

Developing Countries in the Space Field” announced in December 2016 Continuing to support and utilize the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency

Forum (APRSAF) and other dialogues to address Japan’s initiatives

14

Awareness Raising

Japan’s Initiatives

Establishing an integrated, harmonized, and comprehensive Space Traffic Management system is a very important challenge for future space activities.

At present, developing rules regarding on-orbit space activities is a most urgent priority, in light of the clear threats of increasing space debris and orbital congestion.

It is very important for policy makers to build consensus on some basic principles for outer space activities, which can form the basis for “technical and regulatory provisions”, meanwhile experts from related fields keep

on analyzing these issues. We must always take into consideration the possibilities of innovation caused

by new technologies or business models, which can give birth to new types of space activities, as well as new tools for verification.

15

16

Thank you