Committee: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS)
Issue: Preventing satellite collision
Position:
Main Chair
Contents
INTRODUCTION... 1
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS.. 2
BACKGROUND INFORMATION... 3
MAJOR COUNTRIES AND ORGANISATIONS
INVOLVED... 5
TIMELINE OF EVENTS.. 7
UN INVOLVEMENT: RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS,
TREATIES AND EVENTS.. 7
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.. 7
BIBLIOGRAPHY.. 8
INTRODUCTION
On February 10,
2009 everything changed in the history of space exploration. The US commercial
Iridium spacecraft hit a defunct Russian satellite at an altitude of about
800km over Siberia; a collision of what is thought to be the biggest incident
of its kind to date. The impact produced a cloud of debris, which will be tracked into the
future. “U.S. space agency NASA estimated that the satellite collision created
approximately 1,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters, in addition to
many smaller ones”. Some parts of the wreckages of both US Iridium and Russian Cosmos
are expected to burn up in the atmosphere in at least a couple of years.
Nevertheless, this cloud of debris poses a potential threat to opposite
satellites. What types of collisions exist? What are the effects of such
collisions? And, how can man prevent satellite collisions? As the Committee on
the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is a special as well a unique
committee, this Study Guide will help each and every delegate of this committee
aiming to understand not only the importance of the issue, but also how such a
scientific committee. Before you start reading, remind to yourself the reasons,
why you particularly chose COPUOS. This will help you with your upcoming work
on your resolutions. A tip for every delegate? Enjoy
the time dealing with this issue and leave the rest for the committee room. I
am looking forward to watch your commitment and engagement.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Term 1
“Satellite”
“A
satellite is a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star. For
example, Earth is a satellite because it orbits the sun. Likewise, the moon is
a satellite because it orbits Earth. Usually, the word "satellite"
refers to a machine that is launched into space and moves around Earth or
another body in space.
Earth
and the moon are examples of natural satellites. Thousands of artificial, or
man-made, satellites orbit Earth. Some take pictures of the planet that help
meteorologists predict weather and track hurricanes. Some take pictures of
other planets, the sun, black holes, dark matter or faraway galaxies. These
pictures help scientists better understand the solar system and universe.
Still
other satellites are used mainly for communications, such as beaming TV signals
and phone calls around the world. A group of more than 20 satellites make up
the Global Positioning System, or GPS. If you have a GPS receiver, these
satellites can help figure out your exact location.”
Term 2
“Collision”
“ A crash in which two or more things or people hit each
other”
Applied
definition:
“A
satellite collision is when two objects collide while in orbit around a third,
much larger body, such as a planet or moon. This definition can be loosely extended
to include collisions between sub-orbital or escape-velocity objects with an
object in orbit”.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) acknowledged
that the debris cloud could pose a slight risk
to the space stations, which could be moved in an attempt to avoid any other
possible debris. The Secure World Foundation points out
therefore the external need for introducing and installing an international
space traffic control system. Existing space surveillance systems exhibit an
extreme inefficiency, considered also as one of the reasons led to the 2009
satellite collision. The U.S. Defense Department is also in deep negotiations
with nations with a demonstrated interest in space situational awareness. In
regards to this, the U.S. Air Force considers whether it should be making
public a larger share of the data it collects from space traffic. Knowledge is the
key to everything, knowledge is power. But none of the parties involves,
neither the United States or Russia, had any warning or knowledge of the
upcoming incident, because it is vital to point out, that the 2009 satellite
collision could have been prevented, if the parties were warned. With the
warning they would be able to change the orbit locations of the satellites.
Nevertheless, the U.S. Air Force receives a vast number of false collisions, as
the space traffic system they have, lacks in data information and accuracy.
Hence, a new balance between sharing and security should be reconsidered, as
the former can positively contribute to the latter in many ways. So, if the
U.S. Air Force would be sharing data with “friends and allies”, the partners
with which it feels comfortable sharing, can subsidize into creating a globally
distributed network of optical and radar sensors. But, when excluding any
possible space actors from this vital information, it can heighten tensions and
cause other states to coalesce into an opposing system. An international system
to combine and share space situational awareness is an important first step to
prevent satellite collisions. First of all, all states participating can spread
the costs of developing such a system. Secondly, since most of the required
sensors already exist, only a few would need to be constructed. Thirdly, every
country interested in investing or finance their construction can contribute
resources in other ways. All these can increase cooperation among states.
In
February 2009, the 46th Session of the Scientific and Technical
Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS) was held in Vienna. In their reports the following statement was
published:”Since space is becoming an increasingly
congested environment, heightened space situational awareness as well as
international cooperation between governments and industry is critical in the
future”.
The importance of the issue through the eyes of
the states involved in the incident[6]
Ray
Williamson, Executive Director of the Private Foundation for Secure and
Sustainable Use of Space, pointed out in his statement the significance of
implementing a space situational awareness system:"This
collision[in February 2009] underscores in a dramatic
way the importance of instituting an international civil space situational
awareness (SSA) system as soon as possible. In the absence of reliable ways to
clear debris from orbit, it will be increasingly important to follow all active
satellites to prevent future preventable collisions."
Guan
Kejiang, a People’s Daily U.S. correspondent, claimed
that the Pentagon is aware of the limited capabilities of U.S military’s space
surveillance system. Elizabeth Mailander,
Spokesperson for U.S. Iridium Satellite, responded to this statement:” We did not receive any prior warning. In addition,
since the warnings we had previously received were not precise enough and there
were too many satellites changing direction in orbit, we [ultimately] failed to
avoid the threat”.
Yu
Hongjian, a People's Daily
Russia correspondent, blames the U.S Iridium Satellite monitoring network:
“Russian space expert Igor Lisov explained that
Russia's Kosmos-2251 satellite has stopped functioning as early as 1995. In
contrast, the US Iridium 33 satellite was in normal working condition and its
operational orbit could be controlled and adjusted”.
Li
Yan, a People's Daily France correspondent, supports Yu Hongjian’s
statement: “Philippe Goudy, deputy director of France's space center in
Toulouse, thinks that the cause might have been careless monitoring by US
operators”.
Guan
Kejiang, comments on the significance of data
sharing: “The satellite collision accident demonstrates that all countries
should improve the sharing of space information. In the future, countries
should better exchange satellite orbit data with each other”. US State
Department spokesperson Rob McInturff said that all
countries with interests in outer space should mutually cooperate in order to
avoid similar accidents”.
Mazlan Othman, Director of the United Nations Office for
Outer Space Affairs, addressed member countries
and international organizations to fully carry out the "IADC Space Debris
Mitigation Guidelines. He said the implementation of these guidelines will help
protecting the environment in outer space and that the guidelines were written
bearing in mind the interests of mankind.
Inaugurating
a system for the promotion of space safety is an important first step creating
space traffic management. Hitherto, very few companies or countries have
invested the corresponding resources in this area. Currently, large amounts of
data on space functioning and safety has been collected by participants from
scientific and research institutions and multinational companies to satellite
observation stations. But how can they integrate these various types of
resources and make them mutually compatible? The basic principle on
enacting space traffic regulations is how to "avoid" space debris and
spacecrafts that are under "surveillance".
There is still a long way to go before international conventions regarding
space traffic rules can be met.
MAJOR COUNTRIES AND ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED
United States of
America
The
United States have played a significant role in the history of space
exploration. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working in the field of space exploration since 1958.
Also, the U.S. Air Force is the only service that possesses a database on orbit
traffic.
Secure World Foundation
“Secure World
Foundation envisions the secure, sustainable and peaceful uses of outer space
contributing to global stability on Earth.
SWF works with
governments, industry, international organizations and civil society to develop
and promote ideas and actions for international collaboration that achieve the
secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of outer space.
With the end of the
Cold War and rapid spread of access to information, more of humanity is seeking
to obtain the security and socioeconomic benefits that space systems can
provide. This trend, in turn, is promoting rapid growth in the number of
space actors. The growth in stakeholders benefitting from space systems
has exposed the limitations of existing global legal, policy, technical, and
operational regimes to preserve the space environment.
At this point, just
one half century into the Space Age, the Foundation believes it has a unique
opportunity to play a role in establishing the secure and sustainable use of
the space domain. Central to this opportunity are:
increasing the knowledge about the space environment and the need to maintain
it, promoting international cooperation and dialog, and helping all space
actors realize the benefits that space can provide.”
Russia
Along with the Kosmos satellites operated by the Soviet Union,
a large number of military satellites were launched between 1960 and 1990.
Russia is one of the first countries, which developed a space program. His
classified military program evolved around a great number of pioneering
accomplishments in space flight, including the first satellite (Sputnik-1),
first animal in space (the dog Laika on Sputnik 2),
first human in space and Earth orbit (cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on Vostok 1), first woman in space and Earth orbit (cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova on Vostok
image of the far side of the moon (Luna 3) and unmanned lunar soft
landing (Luna 9), first space rover, first space station, and first
interplanetary probe. So, Russia is without doubt one of the countries directly
involved in the issue.
Australia
An Australian
company is developing a laser tracking system that will help prevent collisions
between satellites and space debris, thanks to a $4 million grant from the
Federal Government. Laser tracking systems have been used to track satellites,
but now the company hopes to market a new product to satellite owners and space
explorers, which will help track space debris.
China
China is slowly
becoming one of the strongest powers in space, promising to land on the Moon in
just a few years, and planning already a future mission to Mars. If there is a
chance for a new Space Race to occur in the future, China would be the new competitor
of the US.
Space
Agencies around the world operating satellites
Mexican
Space Agency
Algerian
Space Agency
Asia
Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications
(China)
Asia-Pacific
Space Cooperation Organization (Japan)
Azerbaijan
National Aerospace Agency
Brazilian
Space Agency
UK
Space Agency
Bulgarian
Space Agency
Canadian
Space Agency
China
National Space Administration
Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia)
Danish
Space Research Institution
European
Space Agency
Institute
for Space Applications and Remote Sensing (Greece)
Iranian
Space Agency
Israeli
Space Agency
Italian
Space Agency
Japan
Space Exploration Agency
Korean
Committee of Space Technology (North Korea)
Korea
Aerospace Research Institute (South Korea)
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Date
|
Description of Event
|
October, 1957
|
Sputnik 1, first satellite ever launched (Russia)
|
1958
|
Establishment of NASA
|
February 10, 2009
|
Cosmos/Iridium satellite collision
|
February 2009
|
46th Session of the Scientific and
Technical Subcommittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
|
UN INVOLVEMENT: RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS, TREATIES AND
EVENTS
In
February 2009, the 46th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of
the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was
held in Vienna. In their reports the following statement was published: “Since
space is becoming an increasingly congested environment, heightened space situational
awareness as well as international cooperation between governments and industry
is critical in the future”.
.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
To
sum up the methods of preventing satellite collisions, the need to establish a
civil space traffic control system urges to be stressed, as it is the first
step to find a solution to the issue. Data warning about the possibility of a
collision beforehand should also be provided. So, the question is, whether the
International Space Agency will have an international database on orbit traffic
in its possession( the U.S Air Force already has a
database). The U.S. Air Force
could perhapsshould be making public a larger share
of the data it collects from space traffic. It is very vital getting the
right information to the right authorities in time, in order to make the right
avoidance maneuver decision. If Instituting an
international civil space situational awareness (SSA) system, such system could
be employed to warn possible collisions. Also, what can be proved to be
time-saving, is installing lasers, very high frequency radars and a network of
small, optical sensors, which can contribute into detecting smaller pieces of
orbital junk in low and medium Earth orbit.
The
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) designed since 2008 a
comprehensive set of analysis, modeling, simulation, and visualization tools (Testbed Environmental for Space Situational Awareness
TESSA). TESSA improves performance analysis of the collection of
radio-frequency and optical-sensing systems called the Space Surveillance
Network (SSN), currently used by the U.S. Air Force Space Command to monitor
space activities.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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- ipo.llnl.gov/data/assets/docs/optical_imaging.pdf
- library.thinkquest.org/J002741/nations_in_space.htm