Documents and Press
The OSI produces white papers, original research, and public communications, such as op-eds and interviews. We are just getting started, so while modest at the moment, expect this area to grow. Opinions expressed in the associated work are those of the authors, and do not reflect an official position of the OSI.
- OSI April 2021 Newsletter
- The April 2021 newsletter reflects on OSI activities over the past year and highlights some recent initiatives, public commutations and academic work by OSI Fellows. You can view it here.
- Response to the CSA Request for Consultation on a Framework for Future Space Exploration
- Upon signing the Artemis Accords, the Government of Canada announced a consultation process on a framework for space exploration. As per the call, "The Government of Canada is seeking views from industry, academia, non-governmental groups, and the general public to expand, refine, and solidify this framework to help ensure safe and sustainable space exploration for decades to come."
- The OSI's response can be viewed here (link), which calls for a commitment to full multilateral negotiations, emphasizes the need for Canada to urgently develop its position on space exploration activities, and highlights several areas where Canada can take leadership roles.
- International Open Letter on Space Mining and Signature Form
- The Outer Space Institute is pleased to publish the International Open Letter on Space Mining (link), which stresses the need for a multilateral agreement on the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources and calls on states to present a resolution at the UN General Assembly that urges the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to negotiate a draft of such an agreement. The list of early signatories is appended to the letter.
- The International Open Letter on Space Mining is now open for additional signatures. Should you wish to add your name, please use the following form (link). The current full list of signatories is available here (link). Note: updates may take a few minutes to show.
- Globe and Mail press article about the letter can be found here (link).
- Recommendations and Government Relations
- Open Letter to the Canadian Government Concerning Space Resources
- On 6 April 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order on Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources wherein the U.S. Administration takes the unprecedented position that outer space is not a global commons. The following open letter strongly urges the Government of Canada to reiterate its policy that outer space is a global commons and work through multilateral forums to seek a widely-supported international agreement on how space resources should be recovered and used: PDF
- The Vancouver Recommendations on Space Mining
- In early March 2020, two dozen experts convened at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Brought together by the Outer Space Institute, they came from a wide range of countries and backgrounds, including government, industry, and academia. The composition of the group was very transdisciplinary, with representation from astronomy, planetary science, engineering, environmental science, international relations, and international law. The experts adopted the following Recommendations concerning space mining: PDF . The Recommendations were drafted in consultation with industry leaders, the CSA, GAC, and NRCan.
- Salt Spring Recommendations
- The Recommendations were adopted at an international workshop on ‘Space Debris and National Security’ on Salt Spring Island, Canada, on January 10 and 11, 2020. They reflect a consensus view, and should not be attributed to the individual participants. The workshop was convened by the Outer Space Institute and the University of British Columbia with financial support from the Canadian Department of National Defence and the Salt Spring Forum: PDF
- Research Articles
- “African Youth Engagement with Global Space Governance: The Case of Arizona State University's Interplanetary Initiative Space Governance Innovation Contest” by Timiebi Aganaba, Matt Contursi, Mariam Naseem, Nifemi Awe, and Julia Selman Ayetey. New Space, March 19, 2021.
- ”U.S. Space Policy puts the safe development of space at risk” by Boley and Byers. Science, October 9, 2020. A response to letters about the article, with full content are available here (link)
- "Meteoroid Stream Formation Due to the Extraction of Space Resources from Asteroids" by Fladeland, Boley, and Byers. Conference paper for the 1st International Orbital Debris Conference, December 9-12, 2019.
- "The Role of NewSpace in Furthering Canadian Astronomy" by Boley et al. White Paper for the Canadian Astronomy Long Range Plan 2020, September 2019.
- "Cold, dark, and dangerous: international cooperation in the arctic and space" by Byers. Polar Record, June 10, 2019.
- "Toxic splash: Russian rocket stages dropped in Arctic waters raise health, environmental and legal concerns" by Byers and Byers. Polar Record, October 02, 2017.
- Conference Presentations
- "Meteoroid Stream Formation Due to the Extraction of Space Resources from Asteroids" by Fladeland, Boley, and Byers. Presentation by Boley at the 1st International Orbital Debris Conference, December 9-12, 2019, Sugar Land, TX, USA
- "On the possibility of debris stream formation during asteroid mining operations" by Boley and Fladeland. Originally published during the AAS Division of Planetary Science 50th meeting, Knoxville, October 2018
- Op-Eds and Explainers
- "Toward a decision-intelligent process to assess collision risks in space” by Moriba Jah. Originally published at SpaceWatch.Global.
- "Can Space Exploration be Environmentally Friendly?" BBC Science News with Moriba Jah as a guest.
- "Elon Musk of Mars: a space fantasy with real consequences here on Earth" by Michael Byers and Aaron Boley. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Data renaisscientists, the modern day knowledge sculptors" by Moriba Jah. Originally published in Aerospace America. You can find Moria’s monthly op-eds for Aerospace America here.
- "Space Law Explained" by Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty. Originally published in Center for International Governance Innovation.
- "Space Café WebTalk by SpaceWatch.Global" with Prof. Ram Jakhu as a guest.
- "Innovative Instruments for Space Governance" by Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty. Originally published in Center for International Governance Innovation.
- "In space, finding the facts we don’t know we know" by Moriba Jah. Originally published in Aerospace America.
- "Who is responsible for heritage in outer space?" By Alice Gorman. Originally published in Apollo.
- "Arms Control in Outer Space: Mission Impossible or Unrealized Potential?" by Paul Meyer. Originally published at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
- "Can the Moon be a person? As lunar mining looms, a change of perspective could protect Earth’s ancient companion” by Alice Gorman. Originally published in The Conversation.
- It’s Time for a Truly Canadian Space Mission" by Michael Byers and Aaron Boley. Originally published in The Tyee.
- "Executive Orders and Artemis Accords -- Considerations for Canada", Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, David Kendall. Originally published on SpaceQ.
- "The United States is going back to space. But we have some things to figure out on Earth first" by Michael Byers and Aaron Boley. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Satellites and space debris are polluting our orbit. More than the stars are at stake" by Michael Byers and Aaron Boley. Originally published in The Globe and Mail.
- "How Elon Musk can help save astronomy" by Michael Byers and Aaron Boley. Originally published in the Los Angeles Times.
- "May the Space Force be with you: Canada and the non-weaponization of Space" by Paul Meyer. Originally published in The Hill.
- "Star Wars: Coming soon to a space near you – the diplomatic alternative" by Paul Meyer. Originally published for the Centre for International Policy Studies.
- "Cold, dark and dangerous: The connection between the Arctic and outer space" by Michael Byers. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "With investment in Telesat, Canada enters the communications space race" by Michael Byers. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Did climate change destroy the aliens?" by Michael Byers and Kent A. Peacock. Originally published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- "Toxic rocket fuel a hidden hazard for Canso" by Michael Byers and Cameron Byers. Originally published in The Chronicle Herald.
- "Relax: An asteroid will just miss hitting Earth. But our actions could still have a deep impact" by Michael Byers and Aaron Boley. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Washington sparks a space spat at the United Nations" by Paul Meyer. Originally published in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
- "Canada should lend the Lunar Gateway project a hand – or even a whole arm" by Michael Byers. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Canada and space security diplomacy: getting back into the game" by Paul Meyer. Published in The Hill Times, 26th November 2018 (no link at this time).
- "Soyuz rocket failure: Russia has lost its reputation as a space leader" by Michael Byers. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Trump wants a Space Force. He won't get one" by Michael Byers. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Elon Musk, President of Mars?" by Michael Byers. Originally published in the Washington Post.
- Podcasts and Series
- "Space Café Podcast" hosted by SpaceWatch.Global.
- Morbia Jah’s monthly Space Café WebTalk series “Moriba’s Vox Populi.”
- Alice Gorman - Space Archaeologist and why Elon Musk will never call her back. The Space Cafe Podcast #25 with Alice Gorman as a guest.
- What Do Space and Archaeology Have in Common? Space to Grow podcast with Alice Gorman as a guest.
- "Beyond Earth: The Politics of Space" UBC International Relations Student Association podcast with Michael Byers as a guest.
- "Space Archaeology (SPACE JUNK)" Ologies podcast hosted by Alie Ward with Alice Gorman as a guest.
- Talks
- “Developing Norms of Behaviors for Near Earth Space: Safety, Security, and Sustainability” with Moriba Jah.
- "Diplomacy of Space Security with Professor Paul Meyer" presentation by Paul Meyer hosted by CIC Ottawa.
- "The Fate of the Outer Space Treaty" organized by the Space Court Foundation with Paul Meyer as a discussant.
- "Capacity-building for Space Sustainability" webinar hosted by the Secure World Foundation with David Kendall as a discussant.
- "Future Warfighting Symposium - Space and National Security -- Zoom Panel" hosted by the Naval War College with David Kendall as a discussant.
- SGAC Space Exploration Project Group Panel Discussion on Lunar Governance with Aaron Boley as a discussant.
- Space Governance Innovation Contest with principal organizer Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty and closing remarks by Aaron Boley
- "TedxASU Talk on The Future of the Space Era 4.0" by Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty.
- TED Talk on "The Worlds First Crowdsourced Space Traffic Monitoring System" by Moriba Jah.
- Interviews and News
- "Solar System Superhighways with Dr. Aaron Rosengren & Di Wu" Weekly Space Hangout: January 20, 2021 with Aaron Rosengren as a guest.
- "Who owns space? Well it depends who gets there first" by Andy Martin. Originally published in the Independent.
- "The U.S. Is Trying to Be the 'Gatekeeper' of Space, Researchers Warn" by Becky Ferriera. Originally published in Vice.
- "Pyne join global push to save outer space from exploitation" by Anthony Galloway. Michael Byers and Aaron Boley quoted. Originally published in The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "As Risks of Space Wars Grow, Policies to Curb Them Lag" by Ramin Skibba. Originally published in Undark Magazine.
- "This NASA Mission May Cause an Artificial Meteor Shower" by Jonathan O'Callaghan. Originally published in the NYT.
- "An International Perspective on the Artemis Accords" by Marc Boucher. Originally published on SpaceQ.
- "Canada Urged Not to Endorse US Approach to Space Mining" by Steven Chase. Originally published in the Globe and Mail.
- "Modeling Debris from Asteroid Mining to Inform Legal Frameworks" by David Rich. Originally published on The Space Resource.
- “In space, no one wants to clean up” by Malone Mullin, originally published for the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
- "Steve Burgess Gets Educated: Will Things Get Weird on Mars?" By Steve Burgess. Originally published in the Tyee.
- "Regulating the Final Frontier" by Richard Littlemore. Originally published in Trek Magazine.
- "Greening the Future of Outer Space" by Ramin Skibba. Originally published in Smithsonian Magazine.
- "At Home in Space: Drs. Phyllis Johnson and Peter Suedfeld are investigating the psychosocial effects of long-term space flight" UBC Department of Psychology with Phyllis Johnson and Peter Suedfeld.
- Resources and Initiatives
- AstriaGraph, a tool for viewing current space traffic and resident space object information. Developed and maintained by Moriba Jah and the Astria collaboration. See also the Conjunction Streaming Service Demo.
- Eyes on the Sky, an initiative to bring space environmentalism education alive. By Moriba Jah and a team at the University of Texas.
- The Declaration of The Rights of the Moon, drafted by Alice Gorman and colleagues. The Declaration considers humanity’s historic relationship with the Moon and seeks to award protection rights against exploration of the lunar environment. You can read more about the initiative at the Centre for Democratic and Environmental Rights and a recent article in ABC News.