Technical programme

E3.1. International cooperation in using space for sustainable development: The “Space2030” agenda

As the societal benefits of space technologies and applications are growing, the international community has increasingly shifted its attention to their contributions to the global agendas on sustainability and development, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this regard, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) has decided to develop a “Space2030” agenda and its implementation plan. This session provides the opportunity to discuss the agenda as finalized at COPUOS 2021, its implementation, especially how international cooperation in space activities can contribute to these objectives.

E3.2. The future of space exploration and innovation

Technological innovation, new policies and initiatives have allowed public and private actors to once again focus their energy on space exploration ventures. this session provides an opportunity to discuss the changing space exploration context and current challenges and opportunities for future space activities in this domain.

E3.3. Economic analysis of both actual and potential future benefits from space activities and applications to nations and peoples.

Reflecting the Paris Climate Agreement of 2016, particular attention should focus on global issues and problems that are common to all nations including climate change, the environment, and the development of scarce resources. Also papers should reflect the 1996 U.N. General Assembly Resolution 51/122 on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries. Papers should focus on “developed and developing countries alike [using] the appropriate … space applications and the potential of international cooperation for reaching their development goals".

E3.4. Assuring a Safe, Secure and Sustainable Environment for Space Activities

Space Activities provide a wealth of increasing benefits for people on Earth. However, space actors have come to realize that the benefits of the space infrastructure for the world community depend on technical, legal, policy and political means to keep a safe, secure and sustainable space environment. This session will explore the progress being made within multilateral fora, the private sector and individual countries in supporting the goal of a safe, secure and sustainable space environment. It will focus on the LTS follow-up process at UNCOPUOS, the Guidelines agreed upon, new initiatives for STM and the way forward.

E3.5-E7.6. 36th IAA/IISL Scientific Legal Roundtable: “Autonomous Intelligent Systems in Space: Operational and Legal Challenges”.

INVITED PAPERS ONLY: NO UNINVITED AUTHOR ABSTRACTS The development of artificial intelligence-based autonomous systems for space operations is opening up a whole new set of questions about how these interact with existing legal concepts and technical standards. Intelligent satellites that enable collision avoidance will soon become standard practice; little human intervention will be required beyond the programming. One of the first questions is the extent to which the laws – particularly space laws - governing these technologies on earth are relevant and applicable to these activities in outer space. The growing reliance on autonomous technologies may require a fresh look at the traditional concepts behind the regulation of space activities. The specific attributes of autonomous space systems may also require further consideration when licensing space missions. The aim of this session is to explore the extent to which the world of AI-driven automated processes for space operations and digital connections is developing from both a technical and legal perspective. It will examine how the technical developments, including systems for data sharing and space traffic management, may shape and transform the existing body of legal rules, regulations and practices that apply to space activities. This will inevitably also include how AI technologies relate to the traditional understandings of legal responsibility and liability under national and international space law.

E3.6. Financial Viability and Supplier monitoring in times of economic vulnerability

The COVID-19 crisis has led to unprecedented market volatility and has impacted almost all industries in the global economy at different levels. With this crisis, the recent growth in the space sector that generated unprecedented levels of entrepreneurship and start-up activity, could be reversed. On the other hand, larger space manufacturing industries have not been immune to the crisis. On account of the COVID-19, the lock-downs and travel restrictions, as well as social distance measures and quarantines policies, have slowed down product deliveries, mission deployments and caused supply-chain delays with a direct effect on production and thus revenues. Furthermore, as the space sector has been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis with suppliers across the globe facing liquidity and financial challenges, the need of financial viability and supplier assessments/monitoring has exacerbated. However, not every supplier is going to be equally impacted by COVID-19, nor is every impacted supplier going to have a material disruption or loss for an organization or project. The purpose of this session would be to discuss the level of impact of this crisis in order to not only quantify this impact and reflect on potential financial measures, but also to plan for policies and strategies for the future. Another aspect is to exchange on financial viability and supplier assessment/monitoring best practices, as well as to understand the criticality of financial impacts to establish better measures and/or use of resources from public (and private) funding where they can have the maximum impact. A keynote address will be given followed by a panel session and dedicate presentations for which the call for abstracts is herewith launched.

E3.IP. Interactive Presentations - 35th IAA SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE POLICY, REGULATIONS AND ECONOMICS

Authors with an abstract accepted for an interactive presentation will be asked to prepare slides and display them for the duration of the congress on plasma screens. Authors will be assigned to interactive sessions in which they must be near plasma screens to engage in interactive discussions with other congress attendees.

E3.IPB. Interactive Presentations - 35th IAA SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE POLICY, REGULATIONS AND ECONOMICS

E3.LBA. Late breaking abstracts