Private Sector Participation in Domestic and International Events on Spaceflight Safety, Responsible Practices, and Commercial Space

Private Sector Participation in Domestic and International Events on Spaceflight Safety, Responsible Practices, and Commercial Space

DATES:

Participants will provide their perspectives on Department equities and/or serve as private sector advisors to U.S. delegations to one or more workshops, meetings, symposia, and other international events related to safety, responsible behavior, space policy and governance frameworks, and commercial space activities until December 31, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events will vary in location and format, to include fully online, hybrid, and in-person activities. Short notice modification of plans may be required in response to unpredictable factors. Meetings may be stand alone or on the margins of related events, which may include, but are not limited to, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC), the UNCOPUOS Legal Subcommittee (LSC), the UNCOPUOS plenary, events organized by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, U.S. bilateral dialogues on space with foreign partners, Artemis Accords-related meetings and events, international space conferences and trade shows, and other engagements. There may also be additional opportunities to provide expert views related to domestic policies and U.S. positions in other international diplomatic fora. Please note the limited number of slots for non-USG participation in many events. Participants should focus on the following:

Safety: Identify key safety issues for crewed and/or uncrewed outer space operations. Discuss current attempts to address these issues and suggest new challenges that may develop as private sector space activities advance and evolve.

Responsible Practices: Examine best practices and guidelines for safeguarding the outer space environment for future exploration and use. Examples include the implementation of UN non-binding guidelines on space, including the 2019 UNCOPUOS Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) guidelines, and the Artemis Accords.

Commercial Space Activities: Discuss the challenges to an economically viable space industry and how these challenges relate to the domestic regulatory and international governance frameworks. Share recent advances within the commercial space sector and how they may develop in the future. Evaluate how an expanding commercial sector may affect equities like U.S. economic prosperity, geopolitical relationships, scientific fields like astronomy, planetary protection, orbital debris mitigation, space resource utilization, and other aspects of safe and sustainable operations in outer space. Provide perspectives on current and emerging foreign markets for U.S. goods and services, their supply chains, and related legal and regulatory frameworks. Identify trends, barriers, and opportunities to expand U.S. commercial activity in the field of novel space activities, including through international partnerships.

Facilitating Private Sector Input: Suggest ways to enhance collaboration between the U.S. government, foreign countries, and commercial space industry in the development of international best practices and related mechanisms, including at the United Nations level.