Efforts in ensuring safety and transparency in space activities in the Asia-Pacific

Abstract

This paper introduces the efforts to ensure the safety and transparency of space activities in the Asia-Pacific region, mainly based on the study results of the National Space Legislation Initiative (NSLI). NSLI is an initiative under the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) for exchanging information and enhancing the capacity of space policy and law. NSLI's main activity is the joint study of national space legislation for the submission of a report to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). NSLI's study includes topics relating to safety and transparency in space activities, such as space debris mitigation measures and registration of space objects. This paper introduces the status of such efforts by nine NSLI countries, mainly based on the information in the first phase NSLI report submitted in 2021 and discusses the way forward.