Space Law and Policy in Focus: UNOOSA Conference, Multi-Nation Agreements

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) will host discussion of space law / policy November 19-21 with emphases on space debris, dark / quiet skies, information sharing, sustainability; 200 invited participants are gender-balanced, invited to experience presentations, panels, informal interaction with UN representatives. Objectives are to promote implementation of UN treaties on outer space and address challenges to international space law. Discussion is rampant regarding lunar property rights although that is not a stated focus of this conference. UN treaties include Outer Space Treaty (1967) that declares space is the common interest of mankind, and Moon Agreement (1979) signed by ~20 parties but not USA, China and Russia that prohibits commercial exploitation of space resources. April 2020 Executive Order 13914 of the USA states “Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space, consistent with applicable law” and does not view space as a global commons, explicitly rejecting the Moon Agreement. US NASA / Department of State created the Artemis Accords (2020), which are now signed by 47 parties. Mike Gold led their development and states they are not intended to conflict with the Moon Agreement; however, the description of ‘safety zone’ areas is similar to American Property law ‘right to exclude’ principles. Other lawyers say space mining is not national appropriation under the Outer Space Treaty since it likely would be done by private companies. (Image credits:  UNOOSA, NASA, SpaceX, r/space)

MONDAY 

☆ Nov 18 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 72 seven-member crew look forward to potential arrival of next Progress cargo ship (MS-90) this week, working with immune and digestive systems studies, samples from Electrostatic Levitation Furnace in Kibo module, and maintaining Orlan spacesuits for planned upcoming Russia EVA (date TBC).

☆ Nov 18 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-19 Commander Cai Xuzhe, Engineers Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze transferring cargo from newly arrived Tianzhou 8 (launch mass 14,000 kg), plan to set up bricks made from lunar simulant for 3-years of experimentation including exposure to ultraviolet light, cosmic rays and temperature extremes.

★ Nov 18 — SpaceX, Launch Super Heavy / Starship, Starbase, Boca Chica TX: Starship Flight Test 6; similar orbital profile to Oct 13 flight, Super Heavy booster to return and be caught by launch tower, a Raptor engine to be re-lit while in flight, heat-shielding test, upper stage splashdown in Indian Ocean; 12:00 HST begins 30-minute launch window.

● Nov 18 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Resources Technical Committee, Online: Webinar: Jason Schuler of NASA Kennedy Space Center presents “ISRU Pilot Excavator TRL 5 Progress”; 10:00 HST.

☾ Nov 18 — Moon: 6.2° N of M35 cluster, 04:00.

☆ Nov 18 — Mercury: At southernmost declination, 20:00.

☆ Nov 18 — Apollo Asteroid (2024 UZ10): Near-Earth Flyby (0.030 AU)

☾ = Moon activity

★ = Space and… ☆ = International space / astro events; in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).

Starship Flight 6 to Launch NET November 18 

Starship (S31) and Super Heavy booster (B13) are planned to fly on a suborbital trajectory, launching no earlier than November 18 from SpaceX Starship Orbital Launch Pad at Boca Chica, Texas. The flight will have a re-light of a raptor engine, and it will test limits of the flaps during reentry into Earth atmosphere. If all goes well, this may be the last suborbital flight before orbital trajectories with a new generation of Starship. SpaceX is hoping to achieve an ambitious goal of 25 flights of Starship in 2025. (Image credits: SpaceX)

TUESDAY

o Nov 19-20 — ESA, AviaSpace Bremen, et al, Bremen, Germany: three B2B Matchmaking Pitch events: for Poland / Portugal on Nov 19, for Canada / Ireland / South Africa on Nov 19; for France on Nov 20; at Focke-Wulf room, Congress Centre, during Space Tech Expo Europe.

o Nov 19-21 — Smarter Shows, Bremen, Germany: Space Tech Expo Europe; expecting 8,000+ attendees, 700+ exhibitors, 150+ speakers for Europe’s largest B2B space event; free for attendees.

o Nov 19-21 — UNOOSA, Vienna, Austria: 2024 United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy; to promote adherence to 5 UN treaties on outer space, assist in implementing them via space law, help meet SDG; 200 participants balanced women / men; at International Centre.

o Nov 19-22 — Japanese Rocket Society, American Astronautical Society, Chinese Society of Astronautics, Obihiro, Japan: 16th International Space Conference of Pacific-basin Societies (ISCOPS); space decision-makers, experts, engineers and scientists discuss “DO Actions for Game Changing in Space Exploration.”

☾ Nov 19 — Moon: 5.2° S of Castor, 11:00; 1.85° S of Pollux, 17:00.

☆ Nov 19 — Apollo Asteroid (2024 VU2): Near-Earth Flyby (0.038 AU)