EUTELSAT IGO participated in the 61st session of the Scientific and Technical subcommittee of #COPUOS, which concluded its work yesterday with the adoption of its report. The session was focused inter alia on matters pertaining to Space debris, Near-Earth objects, the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, GSO and Space weather. The inclusion of a new topic for future sessions of the STSC was extensively discussed by the COPUOS Member States and a consensus was finally reached. The matter on “Dark and quiet skies, astronomy and large satellite constellations: addressing emerging issues and challenges” will be become a recurring agenda item of the STSC for at least three years. The working group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTS) held a fascinating Workshop on 6th February 2024 featuring the views from both the public and private space sectors. National Space agencies, Ministries and Observatories from all around the world and private entities with #SlingshotAerospace, #NorthStarEarth&Space, #Astroscale and #HPSGmbH, recognised that the use of space has changed who we are. To cope with the ongoing proliferation of space objects in all Earth-orbits and in order to mitigate the risk of collisions which could generate thousands of space debris, it was agreed that no one can do it alone and that capacity building activities and enhanced international cooperation were highly needed between States and the current and new private actors of the space economy! To safeguard a sustainable use of outer space for now and the future, international standards for information format and communication protocols should be developed and shared globally. The LTS Guidelines published in 2021 by UNOOSA serve as formidable ground and reference to ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
