Join us for the inaugur al conference of the Space Law & Sustainability Center, the newest ce ntre of expertise at ASI.
On 20 June 2025 the launch event of the Space Law & Sustainability Center will take place. This launch will be marked by an international conference aimed at definin g “space sustainability” as a matter of international security. I n the context of rapidly expanding space activities, urgent challenge s have emerged—ranging from the accumulation of orbital debris and the militarisation of space to the commercialisation of space resourc es without adequate regulatory oversight.
Alongside national an d international experts, we will examine the provisions of the Pact o f the Future, a landmark UN Resolution A/RES/79/1 adopted in Septembe r 2024, referring among others to the need of new frameworks concerni ng space debris, space traffic management and space resources. < /p>
The conference will also present a set of critical and innovati ve assessments concerning the adoption of artificial intelligence and quantum technologies in outer space as well as a series of multidisc iplinary approaches to space sustainability.
Alongside national and international experts we will discuss the following topics:
< ul>the message of UNOOSA Director, Aarti Holla-Maini, who congratulated VU Amsterdam o n the launch of the Space Law & Sustainability Center and emphasi sed the importance of the topics addressed during the inaugural confe rence.
Please note that the registration for this eve nt has closed.
Programme
EU ROPEAN PERSPECTIVES ON SPACE SUSTAINABILITY & SECURITY: INSIGHTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, EUROPEAN COMMISSION ;
The panel showcases essential contributions to space sustainability and security from the Netherlands, European Space Age ncy, European Commission and the European private sector, D-Orbit.
Moderator:
Ioana Bratu (VU Amsterdam)< /em>
Speakers:
Semra Turkalp (Royal Netherlands Air Force)
Dorota Englender (European Spac e Agency)
Vera Pinto (European Commission)
Catherine Doldirina (D-Orbit)
FUTU RE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORKS FOR SPACE SECURITY & SUSTAINABILITY
The round table aims to explore the provisions of from the Pact of the Future and shapes a first international discussion on th e future frameworks on space security and sustainability. It will als o include a discussion of how Europe might contribute to realising th e provisions of Action 56 from the Pact of the Future.
Moderator:
Xiao-Shan Yap (Utrecht University)
Discussants:
Frans von der Dunk < em>(Nebraska University; Black Holes)
P.J. Blount
Olga Batura (TNO)
Matthew Gillett (University of Essex; United Nations)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & QUANTUM COMPUTING: TECHNOLOG ICAL INNOVATION FOR SPACE SECURITY
The panel aims to c ritically assess the status-quo of technological innovation with a pa rticular focus on AI and quantum computing and to analyse the existin g legal framework and the upcoming legal frameworks (e.g. the AI Act, the EU Quantum Act).
Moderator:
Ioana B ratu (VU Amsterdam)
Speakers:
T homas Graham (Swinburne University of Technology; AI ∞ SpaceLaw Society)
Georgios Kyriakopoulos (National and K apodistrian University of Athens; AI ∞ SpaceLaw Society)
Ingo Baumann (BHO)
Laetitia Cesari (Luxembo urg University; AI ∞ SpaceLaw Society)
MULTIDISC IPLINARY APPROACHES FOR SHAPING SPACE SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable development on Earth and the sustainability of space activities have largely been treated as separate issues, even though they are increasingly inter-related and inter-dependent for their re alisation. This roundtable aims to address the need for addressing th e concept of sustainability holistically – on Earth and in space an d discuss the implications for space governance. The inter-relation o f the 3S – Safety – Security – Sustainability concepts will als o be addressed.
Moderator:
R ak Kim (Utrecht University)
Discussants:
Victoria Samson (Space Security and Stability for Secure World Foundation)
Xiao-Shan Yap (Utrecht Unive rsity, PI Planet Stewards)
Florian Rabitz (Kauna s University of Technology; Earth System Governance Project)
Swarnajyoti Mukherjee (European Space Agency)
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABLE AND SECURE SPACE
This panel will showcase additional global and cross-continent al perspectives for sustainable and secure space operations. It will demonstrate the need for global cooperation for an integrated approac h to space sustainability and security.
Moderator :
Ioana Bratu (VU Amsterdam)
Almudena Azcárate Ortega (UNIDIR)
Rachael Olore (Kenya Space Agency)
Nay oung Youn (Korea Aerospace Research Institute)
Diego A lvarez (Niubox Digital)
Find more information about th e programme .
DESCRIPTION: On 20 June 2025 the launch event of the Space Law & S ustainability Center will take place. This launch will be marked by an international conference aimed at defining “space sustainabi lity” as a matter of international security. In the context of rapi dly expanding space activities, urgent challenges have emerged—rang ing from the accumulation of orbital debris and the militarisation of space to the commercialisation of space resources without adequate r egulatory oversight. Alongside national and international experts, we will examine the provisions of the Pact of the Future, a landmark UN Resolution A/RES/79/1 adopted in September 2024, referring among oth ers to the need of new frameworks concerning space debris, space traf fic management and space resources. The conference will also pr esent a set of critical and innovative assessments concerning the ado ption of artificial intelligence and quantum technologies in outer sp ace as well as a series of multidisciplinary approaches to space sust ainability. Alongside national and international experts we will disc uss the following topics: