Outer Space: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, 62nd session, 1030 meeting

Good afternoon, distinguished delegates. I now declare open the 1030th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Distinguished delegates, we will suspend the plenary meeting so that the Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space can hold its 5th meeting. After that, the Working Group of the Whole will hold its 7th meeting. We will then resume the plenary and continue our consideration of Agenda Item 13, Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space, with a view to endorsing the report of the Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space, and will hopefully conclude our consideration of this item. We will also continue our consideration of Agenda Item 4, Space for Sustainable Development: Technology and Its Applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, Agenda item 11, future role and method of work of the committee, and agenda item 16, draft provisional agenda for the 63rd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee with a view to endorsing the report of the Working Group of the Whole and hopefully conclude our consideration of this item. There will be 4 technical presentations this afternoon. Delegates are reminded that the full schedule of technical presentations is available on the session's webpage. Are there any questions or comments on this proposed schedule? I see none. We will now suspend the plenary meeting so that the Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space can hold its 5th meeting. Following that, the Working Group of the Whole will hold its 7th meeting. Following the adjournment of the Working Group meeting, we will then resume the plenary With a view to proceeding with the endorsement of the respecting Working Group reports. The meeting is now suspended. To the chair of Mr.

In accordance with the 5-year work plan for 2024 to 2028, the Working Group met both in formal and informal meetings during the current session to advance its work under the 3 core objectives. In particular, we exchanged information under Objective 1, which is to promote and facilitate the implementation of the safety framework for nuclear power source applications in outer space. And we advanced the work under Objective 2, which is to collect and analyze relevant technical information about potential future uses of NPS in outer space, particularly those involving nuclear reactors. In this regard, I am pleased to report that the Working Group agreed on a questionnaire for collecting information under the objectives of the work plan and as a way to invite more member states and international intergovernmental organizations to join the Working Group and share their views, plans, and experiences. I am pleased to report that some Member States have already answered the questionnaire online. I would like to thank those Member States for their fast responses and encourage more States and international intergovernmental organizations to provide responses. The responses to the questionnaire will be used in an anonymized and aggregated form to assist the Working Group advancing its work for 2024 to 2028. To facilitate the submission of responses, the questionnaire is also available on the dedicated webpage of the Working Group. Madam Chair, Distinguished delegates, the working group exchanged and discussed information relevant to the use of SpaceNPS application that was provided by Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and by the European Space Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. I am pleased to note that more and more states are participating in our discussions. Please allow me to inform you that at this session, the exchanges during our meetings benefited from the attendance of Austria, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, El Salvador, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and from the European Space Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. I highly encourage additional states to join the work of the Working Group, specifically those with plans and projects potentially involving the use of nuclear power sources in outer space. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, the Working Group recalled that another method of collecting information under the objectives of its work plan, in particular under the Objective 2, to collect information about potential future uses of NPS in outer space was hold— was to hold a dedicated workshop with the IAEA. In that regard, the Working Group made substantial progress in the preparation of such a workshop, facilitated by the active participation of the IAEA in its discussions. A joint workshop with the IAEA could be held in 2026, possibly in conjunction with the 69th session of the committee. The Working Group agreed to hold intersessional meetings facilitated by the Secretariat to advance the work under its current work plan and specifically to further discuss the modalities of a joint workshop with the IAEA. The first intersessional meeting is planned to take place on the margins of the 68th session of the committee in 2025, preferably during the second week of the session in a hybrid format. Madam Chair, Distinguished delegates, the working group also discussed how we could collaborate and exchange information with the newly established Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation, ATLAC, on matters pertaining to the use of NPS applications in outer space related to lunar activities. I have liaised with the co-chairs of ATLAC, And the Working Group agreed on future cross-collaboration and exchange of information with ATLAG on those complementary matters. Madam Chair, the report on the Working Group of the— the report on the work of the Working Group at this current session, which has just been adopted by the Working Group, is contained in document A/ AC.105/C.1/2025/NPS/L.1 and its Addendum 1 containing the appendix with the questionnaire. It is my pleasure to submit the report to the subcommittee for its endorsement. Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Leopold Sommerer, for the report. Distinguished delegates, I would now like to proceed to endorse the report of the Working Group on Nuclear Power Sources as contained in the document A/AC.015/C.1/NPS/2025/L.1. Do I take it that the subcommittee endorses the report of the Working Group on Nuclear Power Sources? The report of the Working Group on Nuclear Power Sources is endorsed. I am informed that the report on the Working Group of the Whole will be uploaded on the website in about 3 minutes. In order not to waste time, I would suggest to proceed with the first technical presentation for today. And then we will take the working group of the whole right after that. So the first technical presentation I have for today is the Arab Satellite 813 by the representative of the United Arab Emirates. You have the floor.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. My name is Sultan Azidi, and I am team member in the Space Missions Department at the UAE Space Agency. Today, I am honored to present the Arab Satellite A23 Initiative, a regional effort aimed at advancing space technology and sustainable development. The Arab Satellite A23 has been developed to promote knowledge exchange, support sustainable development, and advance technological capabilities, ensuring that the Arab region takes a significant step forward in space research and technology. Beyond its technological significance, the ArabSatellite-23 marks an important milestone in fostering cooperation within the Arab space sector. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for Arab engineers and researchers passionate about space and remote sensing applications, empowering them to contribute to scientific progress and regional collaboration. The name A23 refers to the year that marked the beginning of a flourishing scientific era at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, a well-recognized center for knowledge exchange and scientific advancement. The mission carries this legacy forward by bringing together Arab expertise to drive innovation in space science and applications. This project has been awarded to the National Space Science and Technology Center, NSSTC, at the United Arab Emirates University as the prime contractor, It involves the development of a hyperspectral Earth observation satellite designed to enhance regional capabilities in space applications, environmental monitoring, and scientific research. Additionally, the mission serves as a collaborative platform for members of the Arab Space Cooperation Group, enabling joint research, shared technological expertise, and a unified approach to space-based solutions. The key mission objectives are delivering hyperspectral Earth observations data to address climate change and environmental challenges, establishing a platform for Arab researchers and engineers, encouraging careers in space science and technology, fostering the growth of NSSTC space researchers and engineers by enhancing their capabilities and expertise, developing and demonstrating assembly, integration, and testing capabilities for mini satellites at NSSTC, strengthening regional satellite development capabilities Through this mission, the UAE Space Agency, in collaboration with different partners, aims to advance scientific progress, derive technological innovation, and ensure sustainable development through space applications. The Arabsat-23 payloads provide hyperspectral imaging data, allowing researchers to analyze features that are beyond the capability of the human eye. This is specifically valuable for applications such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, water resource management, and climate studies. The satellite is equipped with 3 main payloads: hyperspectral imaging, panchromatic payload, and the atmospheric polarimeter payload. The satellite's 3 payloads are designed to work seamlessly together, ensuring optimized data acquisition and enhanced performance of the primary hyperspectral Hyperspectral Imager. At the core of the system is the Hyperspectral Imager. This payload provides detailed spectral analysis across a broad range of applications, from vegetation monitoring to material identification. To complement the Hyperspectral Imager, 2 secondary payloads have been integrated to enhance data quality and reduce the need for extensive ground-based corrections. The panchromatic camera improves spatial resolution by working alongside the hyperspectral imager. It helps refine image sharpness, allowing for better feature extraction and analysis. The atmospheric polarimeter provides real-time atmospheric measurements, allowing for more accurate calibrations and atmospheric corrections of the hyperspectral data. What makes this integration unique is that all 3 payloads share the same field of view and optical telescope. This not only maximizes the added value of the secondary payloads relative to their cost, but also ensures a highly distinguishable fused dataset compared to other hyperspectral systems. By working together within a single optical system, These instruments deliver outstanding data products, making satellite A-23 data more refined, reliable, and cost-effective for various applications in Earth observation. The satellite is unique among hyperspectral missions in terms of weight, size, efficiency, and offering a compact yet high-performance solution for Earth observations and research. It is designed to complement existing hyperspectral missions by providing a refined balance between spatial resolution, spectral range, and coverage area. By complementing existing satellites, ARABSAT-23 will enhance the global hyperspectral imaging ecosystem, offering reliable, high-resolution data for scientific and operational applications. The hyperspectral data from Satrac-813 will be available starting Q4 2025, providing valuable insights and opportunities for a wide range of users. This mission is designed to serve multiple communities, including national agencies and stakeholders, national academic institutions, academic and research institutions of the Arab Space Cooperation Group, International partners. By making this data widely accessible, Satellite-23 contributes to scientific discovery, environmental sustainability, and global cooperation, reinforcing the UAE's role in Earth observations and space-based research. The future of hyperspectral research offers exciting opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and real-world applications. By leveraging data from satellites, we can acquire rich hyperspectral imagery that enables deeper insights across multiple domains. By combining cutting-edge research, AI-powered analysis, and multi-platform hyperspectral imaging, we can unlock new possibilities for scientific discovery and environmental sustainability, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in this evolving field. The satellite Earth observation data applications are directly linked to sustainability development goals, supporting global efforts in environmental monitoring, resource management, and climate resilience. By aligning with these critical sustainability development goals, Satellite-823's hyperspectral data plays a vital role in scientific research, environmental protection, and informed decision-making for a more sustainable future. The Satellite-823 mission is strategically designed to maximize downstream capabilities, ensuring its data contributes to scientific advancements, innovations, and global collaborations. With a clear focus on research impact and capacity building, Satellite-23 is set to become a major contributor to the global hyperspectral research community, accelerating knowledge exchange and technology development. Distinguished delegates, as we conclude, I extend my gratitude for your time and engagement. The journey of hyperspectral innovation is one that thrives on collaboration, knowledge sharing, and forward-thinking research. We look forward to exploring new opportunities together, pushing the boundaries of science, sustainability, and technology. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates for the presentation. I would now like to invite the Working Group of the Whole to hold Thank you.

Thank you.

We will see you in the 7th meeting.

Distinguished delegates, I would now like to continue and hopefully conclude our consideration of agenda item 4, Space for Sustainable Development, Technology and Its Applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, Agenda Item 11, Future Role and Method of Work of the Committee, and Agenda Item 16, Draft Provisional Agenda for the 63rd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, with a view to endorsing the report of the Working Group of the whole. I'd like to give the floor I now turn to Mr. Anil Kumar, Acting Chair of the Working Group of the Whole, to present the report of the Working Group to the Subcommittee on behalf of the Chair, Mr. Prakash Chauhan of India. Mr. Anil Kumar, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, at this session, the Working Group of the Whole held 7 formal meetings. The Working Group considered 3 agenda items. STSC agenda items: 1. STSC agenda item 4, Space for Sustainable Development, Technology and Its Applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications. STSC agenda item 11, Future Role and Method of Work of the Committee. STSC agenda item 16, Draft Provisional Agenda for the 63rd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. The sub-working group made concrete action-oriented proposals for consideration by the subcommittee, including the agenda for the 63rd session of the subcommittee in 2026 and the topics for the symposium to be organized at that session. The working group also provided a platform to the co-chairs of the Action Team on Loader Activities Consultation at LAC And to co-chairs of informal consultations on a proposal to hold a 4th United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Use of Outer Space, UNISPACE IV, in 2027, to provide regular reports on the progress achieved at the informal consultations with the benefit of the simultaneous interpretation. The Working Group continued its work to enhance the organization of work of the committee and its subcommittees and will work inter— intersectionally to further optimize the management of technical presentations. At its 7th meeting today, the Working Group adopted its report, which is contained in A/AC.105, /c.1/wgw/2025/l.1. I hereby submit this report as amended to the subcommittee for its action. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Anil Kumar, for that report. Distinguished delegates, I'd now like to endorse the report of the Working Group of the Whole as contained in document A/AC.105/C.1/WGW/2025//L.1. Do I check that the subcommittee endorses the report of the group— working group of the whole as amended? The report of the working group of the whole as amended is endorsed. Is there any delegation wishing to take the floor at this stage? I see none. Distinguished delegates, we have now concluded Agenda Item 4, Space for Sustainable Development, Technology and Its Applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, Agenda Item 11, Future Role and Method of Work of the Committee, and Agenda Item 16, Draft provisional agenda for the 63rd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. Distinguished delegates, before we proceed with technical presentations, I'd like to inform delegates that tomorrow morning, time permitting, we will begin the adoption of the report of the subcommittee. I will inform delegates of the full schedule for the meeting tomorrow morning after the presentation. I'll now turn to proceed with technical presentations. The second presentation on my list is on preparedness and response of the Republic of Korea to space weather during the solar maximum by the representative of the Republic of Korea. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you.

We will have the 3rd presentation on the importance of space sustainability for the continuity of scientific services by the representative of Brazil. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the staff who prepared me many times today, and finally, thank you very much for your very hard work. It's not so easy, I know. Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's an honor to be here to discuss the importance of space sustainability for the continuity of scientific services. My name is Tarcísio Aurélio Bacaus. And I represent Brazil through the National Telecommunications Agency.

This—

I will ask for the following slides, but just now it's good, this one. This presentation was originally delivered at the Radio Frequency Interference Conference 2024, the RFI 2024. a conference dedicated to discussing the impacts of radio frequency interference on various scientific and space services, such as radio astronomy, remote sensing, Earth observation, and space weather. This conference was mentioned this morning by the distinguished delegate of Argentina because the event took place in Bariloche, Argentina, from October 14th to 18th, 2024, bringing together global experts to discuss challenges and solutions to ensure the protection of the radio spectrum for scientific services in an increasingly occupied orbital environment. Next slide, please. Well, you can see on the agenda in this presentation, I will cover the history of space sustainability, the challenges of increasing orbital occupation, the impacts of scientific— on scientific services and international initiatives to ensure a sustainable future in space. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. We can see a brief history of space sustainability. Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, the number of space objects has grown exponentially. The United Nations has implemented important initiatives including the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space, 1961, and the Declaration of Legal Principles, 1963. The Outer Space Treaty, 1967, established fundamental principles for space exploration. In 1978, Kessler warned about the critical risk of increasing space debris, predicting a chaotic orbital environment that could exponentially escalate into cascading collisions. This phenomenon became known as the Kessler Syndrome Theory and led to the establishment of programs such as the European Space Agency Space Debris Office and NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office in the '98s. The United Nations Resolution 62217 in 2007, and the COPUOS Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines, 2018, reinforcing the need for a sustainable space environment. Next slide, please. Next slide.

By the—

the next one, please. By the end of 2023, more than 18,000 objects had been launched into space. space, according to our wording data. In the last 5 years, this number has surpassed, surpassed the total of the previous 62 years combined. Next slide, please. Projections by Jibrin and Bacaus, 2024, in their, in their article, From Sputnik to the Era of Large Satellite Constellations: The Challenges of Ensuring Long-Term Space Sustainability, Indicates that we could reach 105,667— I'm sorry, 105,665 objects by 2035, making international regulation essential to prevent congestion and collisions. Next debris, please. The increase in launches intensifies the problem of space debris. The ESA estimates that more than 130 million fragments larger than 1 millimeter are in orbit, posing a threat to operational satellites and future missions. It's clear that we need effective policies to address this scenario. The removal of inactive satellites and the adoption of strict regulations for the responsible disposal of rockets and space equipment are fundamental to mitigating risks risks and preserving the safe operation of space activities. Next slide, please. The rapid expansion of satellite constellations intensifies orbital congestion and radio frequency interference, affecting critical services like Earth observation and meteorology. The ITU plays a key role in regulating spectrum use to minimize interference, ensuring global coordination and sustainability through international regulation and cooperation. Next slide, please. The preservation of dark and quiet skies is not only a commitment to astronomy but also to culture and environment. Light pollution, satellite trails, and radio frequency interference directly affect scientific observation and must be mitigated through effective solutions. Events such as Dark and Quiet Skies 2 for Science and Society 2021, organized by INOOSA, International Astronomical Union, and Spain, work on concrete measures to reduce these impacts, balancing technological advancement with the protection of the night sky for science and society. Next slide, please. Space situation— situational awareness is a key pillar for space sustainability. It refers to the ability to detect, track, and predict the movement of space objects, including active satellites, debris, and natural bodies near Earth. Currently, there is a global effort to enhance orbital monitoring by expanding sensor networks and developing more precise tracking technologies. The exchange of information among operators, the adoption of international standards, and investments in new capabilities are fundamental to preventing collisions and ensure safe space space operations. Next slide, please. Future of scientific service. Next slide, please. Space sustainability is critical to ensuring that satellites continue to provide reliable data for society. Services such as Earth observation, remote sensing, meteorology, and natural disasters prevention depend on a secure an interference-free space environment. Additionally, space weather sensors are essential for predicting solar storms and protecting critical infrastructures on Earth. Without controlled space conditions, we risk losing the reliability of these essential systems. Next slide, please. International initiatives. Next slide, please. COPUS has been working and studying possibilities for revising its guidelines for long-term sustainability. Additionally, it has established that the topic Dark and Quiet Skies: Astronomy in Large Constellations will be studied until 2029, with the possibility of extending this period. The ITU, in turn, has approved Resolution 219 and Resolution 74, focusing on the efficient use of frequencies for space services. It's also working on developing a handbook of best practices for the use of satellite frequencies with plans for a future recommendation focusing on the sustainable use of spectrum and orbital resource. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Conclusions. Next slide. Space situational awareness. This leads us to an important reflection, dear friends, distinguished delegates. Space governance needs to be improved. The increasing number of objects in space, the rise of large satellite constellations, and the need for global coordination highlight the urgency of strengthening how we monitor and regulate space activities. As we face these challenges, we must also consider critical— we must also consider critical questions. Should there be a unified global framework for space situational awareness? Should the monitoring and regulation of space situational awareness be addressed exclusively, exclusively with the ITU, within the United Nations corpus, or in both forums? These discussions are essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of space. What is certain is that we need technological advancements. precise coordination, and above all, international cooperation to safeguard the space environment for future, future generations. In conclusion, space sustainability is essential to ensure that future generations can explore space in a safe and equitable manner. Brazil reaffirms its commitment to multilateral cooperation to preserve the space environment for all. The increasing occupation of space demands urgent international collaboration with coordinated actions to ensure a sustainable and accessible future for all nations. Moreover, ensuring a clean and interference-free space environment is vital for the continuity of critical scientific services such as Earth observation, remote sensing, and space weather monitoring, which support decision-making on climate change, international public safety, and disaster prevention, ultimately benefiting society as a whole. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil for the presentation. The 4th presentation on my list is on basic principles of airspace integration by the Observer for the International Civil Aviation Organization. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates. I would like to present on behalf of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, an overview of key principles for integrating space transportation operations into airspace systems worldwide. Is there a slideshow presentation? Perfect, thank you. Next slide, please. The International Civil Aviation Organization is a United Nations specialized agency that coordinates international air navigation and develops global aviation standards to ensure safe and efficient air transport across its 193 member states. ICAO's core mission is to serve as the global forum of states for international civil aviation. The organization develops policies and standards, undertakes compliance audits, performs studies and analyses, provides assistance, and builds aviation capacity through many other activities and the cooperation of member states and stakeholders. Next slide, please. 2 primary entities involved in enabling these operations are the air navigation service providers, ANSPs, or sometimes referred to as air traffic services units, and state space regulators, SSRs. ANSPs are organizations that have been authorized by a state to provide air traffic services on behalf of the state, which may entail sovereign airspace or high-seas airspace. These entities are responsible for managing air traffic on behalf of a company, region, or country. They can be government departments or state-owned companies. Every state authorizes ANSPs to provide services for that state over both sovereign and high seas airspace, and this responsibility extends across many companies, regions, and countries. ANSPs are also responsible for comprehensively— sorry, for comprehensive risk mitigation measures. According to Annex 11 of the Chicago Convention, the appropriate ATS authority or ANSP shall ensure the safety risk assessment is conducted as soon as practicable for all activities potentially hazardous to civil aircraft and that appropriate risk mitigation measures are implemented. The ATS safety risk assessment may entail analyzing the area space transportation operations will take place in against historic flight patterns, weather constraints like thunderstorms air traffic must be routed around, times of day with high traffic volume, military exercises, or other events within the area of responsibility. In this context, the state space regulator is an organization established by a state to oversee and ensure obligations to space treaties and interim space laws are fulfilled. In the context of airspace integration, this organization would generally process license or permit applications related to space vehicle safety and operations. They are also responsible for approving the dangerous areas that meet acceptable risk criteria as deemed by the launching state. This is part of their safety risk assessment. Next slide, please. It is important to note that both groups have their own lexicons. There are overlapping terms with different meanings applied. One of the— one of particular relevance to this presentation is the safety risk assessment. While both organizations perform their own version of this while enabling space operation, they are performing fundamentally different tasks under different parts of air and space law. The state space regulator's primary responsibility in airspace integration is to identify danger areas through their version of safety risk assessments. These are specific airspace zones requiring additional caution for non-participating users, including aviation stakeholders, which are published in airspace systems as danger areas. The danger areas may be defined near high-risk areas associated with launches, recoveries, or payload fairing separation. Once the ANSPs receive the danger areas from the space state regulator, they begin careful coordination of all notices to air emissions or NOTAMs pertaining to these danger areas. 3 key principles or pieces of information included in danger area NOTAMs are the size of the danger area, which is communicated by a series of lat and long points, the date of the operation, and any proposed backups, generally up to 7, and the operation time window, meaning the beginning and the end of the danger area activation. These generally include an added time buffer at the end for contingencies in case there is an unplanned failure during the operation. In some cases, the airspace is managed tactically, so when it is clear the operation is no longer posing a risk to the airspace system or other users, the danger area is taken down prior to the scheduled end time and flights are allowed to continue utilizing the those portions of airspace. Over the next 3 slides, we will look at—

The speaker is kindly requested to slow down.

Next slide, please. Example 1 shows the danger areas from a launch occurring from the United States that impacts airspace systems both in the United States and Australia. In this instance, the United States performed the duties of the space state regulator, and the air navigation service providers implementing the danger areas are the United States and Australia. Australia. Next slide, please. Example 2 shows a danger area for space transportation reentry. Since the implementing air navigation service providers are Madagascar, Mauritius, and Melbourne, they are responsible for performing the safety risk assessment against their air traffic when they are implementing these danger areas. The 3 states perform the functions of the ANSP, not the SSR. Next slide, please. Example 3 depicts the airspace utilized for an operation which took place in Europe. There were 2 states performing the licensing function, the United Kingdom and the United States. The states responsible for integrating the airspace associated with the operation were Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. Next slide, please. In closing, I want to emphasize the key points about integrating space transportation operations into the global airspace systems. Air law is governed by the Chicago Convention, a treaty developed more than 80 years ago establishing the foundation for modern international aviation. The annexes to the convention outline what air navigation service providers must do to perform their safety risk assessments. Of the 5 international treaties forming the foundation of space law, the Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention are of particular interest when it comes to defining risk to airspace systems. Because ANSPs and SSRs are separate entities, the nature of their responsibilities differ. The primary launching state conducts the necessary safety risk assessment used to delineate danger zones. Therefore, the assessment defining the danger area is their sole responsibility. Their assumption of liability falls under the scope of the Liability Convention, which constitutes the relevant legal framework. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of integrating space transportation operation into our airspace systems is an important distinction. Simply because a launch operator impacts the high seas that is serviced by another country it does not mean the integrating country or ANSP has the legal authority to act as a state space regulator. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished observer for the International Aviation Organization for the presentation. 5th presentation on my list is on building a space factory in the Lagrange point L5 of the Earth-Moon system by the observer for Space Renaissance International. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Honorable Chair, and I also would like to thank everyone in the audience who is still here and watches my presentation. Next slide, please. What are the main tasks of a space factory? It can be summarized as follows. Processing of lunar and asteroid material, collecting and processing orbital debris, which is about 8,000 metric tons in Earth orbit. Then the extraction of iron, aluminum, titanium, and other metals from lunar or asteroid ore, then the production of building materials like steel bars, aluminum panels, tubes, etc., and propellant. And last not least, the transport of semi-finished or finished products to construction sites in the Lagrange Point of Earth orbit. Next slide, please. Now, the favorite locations for an initial space factory are the Lagrange points of the Earth-Moon system. There are 5 Lagrange points which provide an equilibrium between the gravity forces of Earth and Moon, especially in the points L4 and L5, an object remains in a stable position because there is a triangle between the object, the Earth, and the Moon. Building the first space factory For example, in L5, will enable us to process material and produce goods in zero gravity. Unlike on Earth or on the Moon, solar power is available for 24 hours. Next slide, please. The industrialization of cislunar space will start with the mining of the moon. The proposed Lagrange Space Factory will start with processing lunar material, especially the so-called regolith. To transport the raw material from the lunar surface to lunar orbit, an electromagnetic mass driver can be used. This technology was proposed by Gerald K. O'Neill in the 1970s. Subsequently, unmanned cargo ships will transport the material containers to L5. Next slide, please. Now, the most important minerals on the Moon for heavy industry are oxides of aluminum, iron, titanium, and chromium. Hydrogen and oxygen can be extracted by electrolysis and be used to produce rocket propellant in space. Furthermore, the lunar regolith contains a vast amount of helium-3, which is rare on Earth and can be used for future nuclear fusion reactors. As you see in the picture, we can gain hydrogen and oxygen by reduction from ilmenite. Now, an additional source of material will be also the recycling of orbital debris to clean up Earth orbit. Next slide, please. Now, in a second step, material from near-Earth asteroids will be processed in the Lagrange Space Factory. Besides all kinds of metals, including gold and platinum, some NEAs contain carbon, water ice, and also rare earth elements. Approximately 18,000 NEAs, near-Earth asteroids, of remarkable sizes have been detected so far, some of them crossing the Earth's orbit around the sun. Next slide, please. Here you see the different kinds of near-Earth asteroids, which are called Amors, Athens, and Apollos, whereas the Athens And the Apollos are approaching Earth, whilst the Amors are beyond Earth's orbit around the Sun. Next slide, please. So the construction of a Lagrange space factory in L5. All elements of the LSF are modular and can be replaced in case of damage or material fatigue. In a phase 1, the structure starts with a rotating habitat for a crew of 48 persons, which you can see at the left side. The human crew is assisted by artificial intelligence and robots when building this first habitat. In Phase 2, a central construction axis is built which carries all wiring installation tubes, and so on. In Phase 3, along the central construction axis, the non-rotating manufactural modules and the solar power arrays are built. Due to its modular construction, the entire LSF structure can be extended along the central axis. Next slide, please. So you'll see on the left side a cross-section and on the right side a few— a perspective view of the LSF, and the red cargo ship is docking on one of the modules of the industrial facility. Next slide, please. Yes, on this slide we can see the hierarchy in the L5 Lagrange Space Factory. Of course, on top of the hierarchy there is the human crew which gives orders to artificial intelligence and controls robots and manufacturing. And at the end, there is industrial processing and manufacturing in zero gravity or microgravity in L5. And from L5, there is the transport of the material, for example, to L4 or to Next slide, please. To establish the proposed LSF space factory, some precursor steps are necessary within the next years. A new orbital station in low Earth orbit as a successor of the present The second ISS, preferably with simulated gravity, may be in the year 2035. Then a manned lunar base with an electromagnetic mass driver, and then a Lagrange space factory first stage to process lunar material and orbital debris from Earth.

Thank you.

which may be in the year approximately 2045. Then starting the mining of near-Earth asteroids, maybe in the year 2060. And then the LSF second stage to process asteroid material, which maybe start in the year 2070. Thank you. 2065 or later. In the long run, the majority of mining and heavy industry could be shifted into space to minimize the pollution and climate warming on Earth. This needs a new level of international cooperation and peaceful coexistence of all All humans on Earth. Next slide, please. I thank you for your attention. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished observer from Space Renaissance International for the presentation. Distinguished delegates, I will shortly adjourn this meeting. Before doing so, I would like to inform delegates of our schedule of work for tomorrow morning. We will meet promptly at 10 AM. We will suspend the plenary meeting so that the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities can hold its 3rd meeting. We will then resume plenary and continue our consideration of Agenda Item 10, Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, with a view to endorsing the report of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. activities and will hopefully conclude our consideration of this item. Time permitting, we will begin the adoption of the report of the subcommittee under Agenda Item 17, Report to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. We will have 2 technical presentations tomorrow morning. Delegates are reminded that the full schedule of technical presentations is available on the session's website.

Thank you.

Are there any questions or comments on this proposed schedule? I see none. Distinguished delegates, this meeting is adjourned until 10 AM tomorrow morning. Thank you.