Clinton Commits U.S. To Work on Space Code of Conduct-UPDATE

UPDATE:  A link to a one-pager issued by the State Department explaining the need for an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities has been added.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a statement today committing the United States to working with the European Union and other countries to develop a “code of conduct” to ensure the long term sustainability of the space environment.

Secretary Clinton cautioned that “the United States has made clear to our partners that we will not enter into a code of conduct that in any way constrains our national security-related activities in space or our ability to protect the United States and our allies.”   Nonetheless, the United States wants to work with other countries to “reverse the troubling trends that are damaging our space environment and to preserve the limitless benefits and promise of space for future generations.”

The full text of the Secretary’s statement is as follows:

“The long-term sustainability of our space environment is at serious risk from space debris and irresponsible actors.  Ensuring the stability, safety, and security of our space systems is of vital interest to the United States and the global community.  These systems allow the free flow of information across platforms that open up our global markets, enhance weather forecasting and environmental monitoring, and enable global navigation and transportation.

“Unless the international community addresses these challenges, the environment around our planet will become increasingly hazardous to human spaceflight and satellite systems, which would create damaging consequences for all of us.

“In response to these challenges, the United States has decided to join with the European Union and other nations to develop an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.  A Code of Conduct will help maintain the long-term sustainability, safety, stability, and security of space by establishing guidelines for the responsible use of space.

As we begin this work, the United States has made clear to our partners that we will not enter into a code of conduct that in any way constrains our national security-related activities in space or our ability to protect the United States and our allies.  We are, however, committed to working together to reverse the troubling trends that are damaging our space environment and to preserve the limitless benefits and promise of space for future generations.”

The State Department also issued a one-pager explaining the need for an International Code of Conduct for Space Activities.  It notes that  60 nations and government consortia as well as academic and commercial entities operate 1,100 active satellites today, part of the 22,000 space objects being tracked by the U.S. Department of Defense.  Not only does the United States need to address challenges from this increasingly congested space environment, the State Department says, but “threats to the space environment will increase as more nations and non-state actors develop and deploy counter-space systems.”  

 “Given the increasing threat — through either irresponsible or unintentional acts — to the long term sustainability, stability, safety, and security of space operations, we must work with the community of spacefaring nations to preserve the space environment for all nations and future generations,” it stresses. (Italics in original.)