Space Debris Conference
Keynote
ITU Secretary-General Doreen-Bogdan-Martin
11 February 2024
Good morning, everyone.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission H.E. Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha,
CEO of the Saudi Space Commission H.E Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi,
Let me start by thanking the Saudi Space Agency and CST (Communications, Space and Technology Commission) for the opportunity.
We at ITU are delighted to be a partner.
It's exciting to be here at this moment in history.
Especially today — the International Day of Women and Girls in Science — I want to recognize Aarti, Candace, Catherine, Olga, Claire, Amy, Mariam and all the other women in this room that are passionate about space.
Let me also congratulate Rayyanah Barnawi, Saudi Arabia's first female astronaut and the first Arab woman astronaut, on her successful mission to the International Space Station last year.
Rayyanah's triumph is another light in the dawn of a new space era, with more than 70 countries and hundreds of companies developing space ambitions or activities.
Satellites have gone from niche applications to part of our world's critical infrastructure.
At the turn of the 21st century, only 14 nations operated satellites.
Within the past two decades, satellites from 91 countries reached orbit.
And humanity's return to the Moon is on the horizon.
It's crucial for ITU to be present at such a pivotal moment for the space ecosystem, and for our world.
Many of you know us, but for those unfamiliar, ITU is the United Nations (UN) agency for digital technologies.
And we've been part of the space community for decades.
In fact, ITU first began allocating frequencies for space communications more than 60 years ago.
Part of our core mandate is to help keep the radio environment free from harmful interference on Earth – and in space.
Today, the entire space ecosystem is underpinned by ITU standards and regulations.
Our membership includes space agencies, satellite operators, new space companies from established firms to start-ups, and regulatory bodies with space as part of their portfolio – all active participants in ITU's work.
About half of our Radiocommunication Bureau is dedicated to space services.
That's because space-based communications are increasingly vital to our mission of connecting the world, and to the broader UN mandate of ensuring peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.
With so many of the Sustainable Development Goals' targets relying on data collected by Earth-observation satellite systems, we must all work together to ensure space continues to drive sustainable development.
But a major obstacle threatens to derail our efforts.
It's the reason why we're all here at this inaugural Space Debris Conference.
Debris objects with a 1-millimeter diameter can damage a satellite, but a diameter of 1 centimeter or more can actually render a satellite inoperable.
Even more alarming is the European Space Agency's estimate that at least 1 million debris objects between 1 and 10 centimeters are orbiting our planet as we speak.
Low-Earth orbit (LEO) generally sees the most activity — launch traffic levels in LEO are 27 times higher than a decade ago, according to the World Economic Forum — and accounts for 96% of space debris.
And yet, by 2035, the annual economy of low-Earth orbit alone is projected to reach 312 billion USD.
I see three ways this situation could play out going forward.
In the first scenario, our orbital environment essentially becomes a celestial scrapyard.
The Kessler syndrome, where the density of objects in low-Earth orbit is high enough to generate cascading collisions, becomes a daily reality.
This self-sustaining, uncontrollable chain reaction in the sky verges on making the operation of satellites, astronomical observation of the cosmos, and potentially human spaceflight, unfeasible for generations.
Space, a realm that has always been associated with human ambition, cooperation, and scientific progress, becomes virtually inaccessible due to our lack of foresight and stewardship.
This first scenario is the worst case.
A second scenario sees us continue our current practices.
In this 'business-as-usual' approach, nations and private entities continue to launch satellites and other objects into orbit without a globally coordinated plan for their end-of-life.
Significant strides in establishing guidelines for debris mitigation and space traffic management have been made, but only some entities comply.
Global reliance on space-based technologies continues to grow, and with it, the launch rate of satellites rises exponentially.
The second, status quo scenario is an untenable path, ultimately leading towards that junkyard, but at a slower pace.
In both the first and second scenarios, the Space2030 Agenda remains a distant dream.
Humanity would have failed to harness the potential of space to drive sustainable development on Earth, and millions would be shut out from the benefits of space.
But, and this is good news- there is a third scenario.
It's a future where space sustainability has shifted from concept to reality.
Where we have successfully managed to keep the space environment free from both debris and harmful interference.
In this third scenario, the principles of international cooperation, respect for space as a global commons, and the long-term sustainability of space activities have become the norm.
All countries can readily benefit from space science technology, applications, and space-based data – and are using those resources to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
This sustainable space future is really not as far-fetched as it may sound.
Because we already have the technical knowledge to mitigate space debris.
Techniques such as the controlled de-orbiting of satellites at the end of their operational life, the use of low-drag materials in satellite construction, and space traffic management are all within our grasp.
But technical solutions are only one piece of the puzzle.
The greater challenge lies in creating a robust framework that supports responsible and sustainable behaviour in space.
This requires international coordination, political will, and demonstrating — not simply discussing — a long-term commitment to the sustainability of human activities in space.
Coming back to our third scenario, space-faring nations would have ratified and enforced comprehensive standards, acknowledging that space, like spectrum, is a shared resource, and that preserving it is a shared responsibility.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are here because all have a stake in keeping our shared space environment safe and sustainable for people and planet.
As orbital traffic intensifies, so does the urgency to maintain a safe and clean space environment that protects trillions of dollars' worth of assets.
The Radio Regulations — a treaty upheld by and for 193 ITU Member States — provide a stable framework that is needed by industry and governments to preserve and protect their investments.
This stability comes from spectrum allocation and compatibility, but also from the associated framework for harmonious satellite deployment.
Answering the call of the Bucharest Plenipotentiary Conference in 2022, ITU also now has a specific resolution on our important role in the service of space sustainability.
Adopted by the 2023 Radiocommunication Assembly, Resolution 74 is a real milestone, and we are already beginning to collect and analyze disposal strategies and methodologies for NGSOs to support the work of our members.
We are urging governments, satellite operators, manufacturers, launch service providers, space agencies and other space stakeholders, to share their deorbit and disposal strategies and plans with us so that they can be considered in our study groups. As well as on a dedicated portal to ensure widespread dissemination of best practices.
We have an opportunity to prevent the growth of space debris and to ensure the long-term sustainability of spectrum and orbit resources.
And that is why for ITU, and I think this industry as a whole, that the outcomes of the last WRC were so important.
As Secretary-General Guterres said in his message to WRC-23, we need to work together to “advance the responsible and sustainable use of technologies, including satellites, and ensure that vital commons like outer space are preserved for future generations."
The key outcomes of WRC demonstrated that we took steps in the right direction, including decisions to:
- Continue prioritizing equitable access to satellite orbits, with developing countries' needs in mind, in line with the Space 2030 Agenda.
- To further protect space research and Earth exploration.
- Ensure more stable and transparent regulatory framework for space services.
- And a visionary new agenda item − that excites many of us − that will help establish the first generation of lunar communications.
We also saw on the margins of WRC, new avenues of cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia holding a dialogue on the future of the space economy, and the ITU roundtable (that included many of you in this room) on leveraging space to shape a more sustainable future for people and planet.
Some excellent ideas came out of both conversations, including fostering capacity building in developing countries, closing the knowledge gap, and promoting responsible space operations and adherence to best practices.
Most of all, we heard strong calls for international collaboration among space agencies, governments, and industry — and for UN agencies like ITU, UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs), WMO (World Meteorological Organization) and others to closely collaborate.
I believe it was Governor Al-Tamimi who said: “That's the beauty of having a UN agency like ITU that not only listens to, but also includes industry."
Ladies and gentlemen, as the space economy continues to grow, one thing remains clear:
Only through partnerships between the public, private, and scientific sectors can we make sure space resources are used equitably and sustainably.
But the time has come for us to make a choice.
Do we continue down the path of complacency towards a celestial junkyard?
Or do we seize this opportunity — here and now — so that we ensure our shared space environment becomes an accessible, sustainable and beneficial commons for all of humanity.
The choice is ours. Lets bring it home.
Thank you.
