UNOOSA, regional partners convene ASEAN Workshop for space safety and cooperation
Date: 2026-03-18
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has partnered with regional stakeholders to strengthen space safety and sustainability through the ASEAN Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Workshop held in Manila.
The workshop brought together policymakers, technical
experts, and commercial operators to advance a coordinated regional approach to
monitoring and managing activities in Earth’s orbit. It was co-organised with
the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency
(GISTDA).
UNOOSA Director, Aarti
Holla-Maini and Space Law and Policy Lead Rosanna
Hoffmann participated in the engagement, which focused on enhancing
regional capacity to address the growing challenges of space congestion and
orbital safety.
Key discussions covered improving
Space Situational Awareness through better tracking and observation of objects
in orbit, advancing Space Traffic Coordination to translate data into
operational decisions, understanding the impact of space weather on satellites
and infrastructure, and strengthening national legal and policy frameworks.
Participants also emphasized the importance of trust, collaboration, and
data-sharing in building a resilient regional space ecosystem.
On the sidelines of the workshop,
UNOOSA and PhilSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand cooperation in
areas including space law, capacity-building, and public engagement. The
agreement also includes support for educational initiatives such as the
adaptation of a children’s book on space law and international cooperation into
all six United Nations languages.
The
workshop reflects growing international recognition that ensuring a safe and
sustainable space environment requires collective action, coordinated policies,
and shared responsibility among global and regional stakeholders.
