SWF Podcast

This podcast features content produced by the Secure World Foundation (SWF), a private operating foundation that promotes cooperative solutions for space sustainability and the peaceful uses of outer space. The Foundation acts as a research body, convener and facilitator to promote key space security, and other related topics, and to examine their influence on governance and international development.

Conversations on Investing & Space Sustainability Episode 4: Nishan Degnarain 12/08/2022

Conversations on Investing & Space Sustainability Episode 3: Matthew Kuta 11/10/2022

Conversations on Investing & Space Sustainability Episode 2: Matt O'Connell 10/27/2022

Conversations on Investing & Space Sustainability Episode 1: Mark Boggett 10/13/2022

Capacity-building for Space Sustainability: The role of government, industry and civil society 07/29/2020

Examining the Socioeconomic Benefits of the International Space Station 03/27/2020

Is Spectrum Shifting the Playing Field for the Weather Enterprise? 10/01/2019

Is Spectrum Shifting the Playing Field for the Weather Enterprise? Many earth scientists unknowingly use special allocations of spectrum that are reserved for the collection and transmission of hydrometeorological data, particularly involving weather satellites. These allocations, for example, provide rebroadcasts of geostationary weather satellite imagery, transmit National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data to academic and industry partners, and enable passive microwave sensing of weather systems over the ocean. Data received through these allocations are paramount to achieving the best possible timeliness and quality of weather forecasts and warnings. Satellite observations of Earth’s atmosphere are a major contributor to weather and climate research, and improve the predictions from numerical weather prediction models. However, the spectrum allocations for meteorological observations and earth exploration is potentially becoming threatened from proposals to deploy 5G and other advanced networks in adjacent bands, introducing risk and uncertainty for longstanding remote sensing applications. Because scientists and other users of weather data do not typically follow the complex and technical government spectrum proceedings, there is limited advocacy from those who could be impacted most and could best convey the true value of certain spectrum allocations for science. In order to illustrate the wide range of potential impacts to weather satellite observations and timely earth science data transmissions, this panel, at the , discussed various spectrum proposals and how they might impact earth science research and users of earth-observing satellite imagery and products. The panel will also explain the regulatory environment and challenges to a brokered discussion on the relative merits of competing needs for spectrum allocations. It was an opportunity to share information with an international audience of satellite experts across government, academic and private sector audiences. The timing occurred shortly after the close in public comments to the FCC on the NPRM related to GOES real time data access (1675-1680 MHz) and just prior to the start of the World Radio Conference where discussions will include the rules around the global deployment of 5G technologies, including spectrum resources closely adjoining passive remote sensing observations for numerical weather prediction (especially near 23.8 GHz). Speakers: Jordan Gerth, Physical Scientist, National Weather Service Office of Observations Ryan Terry, Director, Regulatory Licensing and Policy, Lockheed Martin Corporation Elliot Eichen, 2018-2019 IEEE-USA Congressional Fellow, and former Director of R&D, Verizon Communications Dave Lubar, Senior Project Leader, Civil Spectrum Management, Civil Systems Group, The Aerospace Corporation Session Co-chairs: Renee Leduc, Founder & Principal, Narayan Strategy Krystal Wilson, Director of Space Applications Programs, Secure World Foundation More details, can be found at the on the SWF website. /episode/index/show/swfound/id/11470643

Space Weather as a Global Challenge 2019 10/01/2019

Space Weather as a Global Challenge 2019 Recorded in Washington, DC on September 26, 2019. Since 2016, Secure World Foundation (SWF) has partnered with the U.S. Department of State to host multiple Space Weather as a Global Challenge events to facilitate discussions on the impacts of space weather across the globe, and plans to collaborate in observation, modeling, prediction, and mitigation of harmful effects. This year’s Space Weather as a Global Challenge will be held in coordination with the Next Step Benchmarks Town Hall, an event that supports the U.S. , on September 26, 2019. The Next Step Benchmarks is an effort funded by NSF and NASA, and led by the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), that has gathered 32 of the world’s leading space weather scientists to develop recommendations for improving the characterization of extreme space weather events. Initial characterizations of 1-in-100-year and theoretical maximum events for five space weather phenomena were described in the report, released by the White House’s National Science and Technology Council in 2018. The Next Step Benchmarks team is developing a public report that will provide recommendations to improve the estimates found in the Phase 1 report. The Town Hall will be an opportunity for the space weather community to provide feedback on proposed recommendations and priorities for studies, data acquisition, and long-term research that would improve the characterization of extreme space weather events. Following the Town Hall, SWF and the U.S. Department of State hosted an evening panel discussion and networking reception to share the general outcomes of the Town Hall and other U.S. and international space weather initiatives. Speakers Jean-Luc Bald, First Secretary, Space Global Issues & Innovation Section, Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America Mark Harvey, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Resilience Policy, National Security Council Staff Jeff O'Neil, Legislative Director, Office of Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) Geoffrey Reeves, Research Fellow, Los Alamos National Lab Moderator: Josh Wolny, Project Manager, Secure World Foundation More details, including transcripts, can be found at the on the SWF website. /episode/index/show/swfound/id/11470565

Summit Panel: Space Traffic Management 07/17/2019

Summit Panel: The Relationship Between Commercial Space and Counterspace 07/16/2019

Closing Keynote: Jim Bridenstine 07/12/2019

Summit Panel: The Promises and Challenges of New Actors in Space 07/12/2019

Summit Luncheon Keynote: Kevin O'Connell 07/11/2019

Summit Opening and Spotlight Talks 07/11/2019

India's ASAT Test: A Jolt To Space Stability 05/15/2019

US-China Engagement in Space 04/12/2019

The Future of Space Safety: Keynotes and Panel 01/07/2019

Space Weather Enterprise Forum: Implementation of Activities Across the Space Weather Enterprise for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure 08/09/2018

Space Weather Enterprise Forum: Implementation of Activities Across the Space Weather Enterprise for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure Recorded in Washington DC, on July 25, 2018. The SWEF brought together the space weather community to share information and ideas among policymakers, senior government leaders, researchers, private-sector service providers, space weather information users, media, and legislators and staff from Capitol Hill to raise awareness of space weather and its effects on society. This year's event sharpened the focus on critical infrastructure protection, with the necessary underpinnings of research, improved products and services, and applications to serve a broad and growing user community. The ultimate goal is to improve the Nation’s ability to prepare for, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the potentially devastating impacts of space weather events on our health, economy, and national security. This recording features an presentations and a panel discussion on research-to-operations activities seeking to address threats from severe space weather. Speakers Mr. Steven Clarke, Senior Policy Analyst at the Office of Science and Technology Policy , Executive Office of the President Dr. Conrad Lautenbacher, Chief Executive Officer, GeoOptics Incorporated and American Commercial Space Weather Association Dr. Daniel Baker, Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder Dr. Christopher Cannizzaro, Office of Space and Advanced Technology in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science, U.S. Department of State Dr. Mizuhhiko Hosokawa, Vice President of National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan Moderator: Mr. Mike Ryschkewitch, Head, Space Sector at Johns Hopkins University of Applied Physics Laboratory Closing: Mr. Michael Bonadonna, Executive Secretary, Space Weather Operations Research and Mitigation Subcommittee and Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology More details can be found at the on the SWF website. /episode/index/show/swfound/id/6904551

Space Weather Enterprise Forum: Opening Address and Understanding and Managing Risks and Impacts Associated with Space Weather 08/09/2018

Space Weather as a Global Challenge: Perspectives from the Private Sector and Closing Remarks 08/06/2018

Space Weather as a Global Challenge: Toward Improved Space Weather Services and Preparedness 08/06/2018

Space Weather as a Global Challenge: Perspectives Around the Globe 08/06/2018

Space Weather as a Global Challenge: Welcome and Japan's Space Weather Efforts and Outlook 08/06/2018

The Commercial Sector and Norms for Responsible Use of Space 07/09/2018

Space Traffic Management and Enabling Sustainable Commercial Development of Space 06/20/2018

Space Traffic Management and Enabling Sustainable Commercial Development of Space Recorded in Washington, DC, on June 11, 2018. Over the last decade, there has been growing interest and investment in commercial space activities. Companies are developing new and innovative space applications and services that could deliver significant societal, economic, and national security benefits on Earth. However, some of these ventures face obstacles from outdated, overly restrictive, or non-existent licensing and government oversight processes. At the same time, the growing congestion in critical orbit regimes and potential to launch tens of thousands of new satellites over the next decade have heightened concerns about orbital debris and the long-term sustainability of space. As a result, the US government has spent much of the last decade debating national policy on space traffic management (STM), which includes both reform of the government oversight regime and improving civil space situational awareness (SSA) to increase knowledge of the space environment and space activities. This debate appears to be coming to a conclusion, as the Trump Administration readies a policy decision on STM. However, significant parts of their decision will require both changes to existing authorities and regulations and funding from Congress to implement, a matter on which Congress has yet to decide. This luncheon panel discussion brought together experts from the Trump Administration, academia, and think tanks to discuss the challenges driving interest in STM, regulatory and administrative considerations, and ideas for how the Trump Administration and Congress can best implement an STM regime that enables sustainable commercial development of space. Speakers Opening Remarks: Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX 21), Chair, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Panelists: John Giles, Col, USAF; Senior Policy Advisor, National Space Council Theresa Hitchens, Senior Research Associate, University of Maryland's Center for International and Security Studies Diane Howard, Professor of Commercial Space Operations/Spaceflight Ops, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Moriba Jah, Director of Advanced Science and Technology Research in Astronautics Program, University of Texas at Austin Brandt Pasco, Attorney & Fellow, Hudson Institute Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation More details, including transcripts, can be found at the on the SWF website. /episode/index/show/swfound/id/6727389

Trash in the Skies III: Prospects for Active Removal of Space Debris 11/07/2017

Trash in the Skies III: Prospects for Active Removal of Space Debris Recorded in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2017. This luncheon panel discussion examined the technical, legal, and policy prospects for active debris removal (ADR), and the steps Congress can take to help incentivize the development of ADR technologies and capabilities. Space debris continues to pose a significant threat to future space activities. Although progress has been made over the last decade on implementing voluntary guidelines to minimize the creation of new debris, some 22,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10 cm still exists in orbit around the Earth. Scientific done by multiple space agencies have shown that collisions between these debris objects will generate thousands of additional space debris, even if there were no new launches, and that removing some of the largest space debris objects from orbit can mitigate this growth and future risk. In 2010, the Obama Administration a new US national space policy that included a directive to Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Secretary of Defense to jointly research and develop technologies and techniques to do ADR. Seven years later, little progress has been made, and neither NASA nor the Department of Defense has shown a willingness to invest in ADR development, despite the threat space debris poses to their continued use of space. NASA has awarded a few small grants to private sector entities for early concept studies of some promising ADR techniques, but that support has not included on-orbit demonstrations. This event is the third in a series organized by Secure World Foundation (SWF) on Capitol Hill. In 2012, "" discussed the impact the growing amount of space debris has had on space activities, and the importance of improving space situational awareness (SSA) for managing the risk posed by space debris, and national and international efforts to mitigate space debris. In July 2017, "" provided an update that looked at the progress made, and not made, over the last five years, and included perspectives from satellite operators and insurers on the risk to satellites from collisions with space debris. Speakers Opening Remarks: Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Member, Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness Panelists: Dr. Marshall Kaplan, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Launchspace Technology Corporation Mr. Jerome Pearson, President, Star Technology and Research, Inc. Dr. Siegfried Janson, Senior Scientists, The Aerospace Corporation Mr. James Dunstan, Founder, Mobius Legal Group Dr. Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation Moderator: Ms. Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation More details, including transcripts, can be found at the on the SWF website. /episode/index/show/swfound/id/5920447

Trash in the Skies II: Industry Perspectives on Dealing with Space Debris 07/12/2017

Trash in the Skies II: Industry Perspectives on Dealing with Space Debris Recorded in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2017. SWF held a luncheon panel discussion on Capitol Hill that brought together private sector experts to discuss the current space debris situation, what steps are being done (or not done) to address it, whether the blanket 25-year rule is still sufficient, and what role industry can play in helping ensuring the long-term sustainability of space while fostering continued innovation and growth of the space sector. In 2012, Secure World Foundation (SWF) hosted an event on Capitol Hill called "" to discuss the impact the growing amount of space debris has had on space activities. The event highlighted the then estimated 22,000 pieces of space debris larger than a softball that could destroy a satellite in a collision, and the hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller debris that could cause serious damage. The event also discussed the importance of improving space situational awareness (SSA) for managing the risk posed by space debris, and national and international efforts to mitigate space debris. The biggest effort focused on implementing voluntary space debris mitigation guidelines, the most important of which stipulated that no objects should be left in a protected region for longer than 25 years after the end of their useful life. In addition, the space community needed to focus on developing the capability to start removing space debris from orbit, in order to avoid long-term growth in increased risk over time. Five years later, there have been few meaningful improvements in the situation. Space debris still continues to pose a threat to space activities. Compliance with the 25-year rule hovers around 40-60%, a rate scientists have is insufficient to stave off long-term growth. Additionally, there have been only very limited efforts made to develop debris removal technologies, particularly in the United States where both NASA and the Department of Defense have shown little willingness to prioritize it. At the same time, the commercial space industry has grown, with dozens of new companies raising billions in private investment to embark on new and innovative uses of space. Several of these companies are planning large constellations of hundreds to thousands of satellites, sparking new concerns about space debris and congestion in space. Speakers Mr. Jonathan Goff, President and CEO, Altius Space Machines Dr. Tim Maclay, Director of Mission Systems Engineering, OneWeb Ms. Lauri Newman, Conjunction Assessment Manager, NASA Dr. James Vedda, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, the Aerospace Corporation Mr. Mike Vinter, Executive Vice President, AON Risk Solutions Moderator: Dr. Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation More details, including transcripts, can be found at the on the SWF website. /episode/index/show/swfound/id/5531031

Space Weather Enterprise Forum Session 5: The National Space Weather Partnership 07/12/2017

Space Weather Enterprise Forum Session 4: National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan Update 07/12/2017

Space Weather Enterprise Forum Session 3: Space Weather Services, Science, and Supporting Infrastructure 07/12/2017

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