Solicitation for Federal Register Notice 12192: Seeking Private Sector Participants for UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) Workshops in 2024.

Background: The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1959 to review international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, study space-related activities that could be undertaken by the United Nations, encourage space research programs, and study legal issues arising from the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. This solicitation is seeking private sector participants in three upcoming events in 2024: one on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, and two on Space Resource Activities.

Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities

During the Committee’s 62nd session in 2019, consensus was reached on a preamble and 21 guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities (LTS), which were subsequently endorsed by General Assembly resolution 74/82. These guidelines address key issues, including guidance on national level policy and regulatory frameworks for space activities, safety of space operations, scientific research and development, international cooperation, and capacity-building for emerging space faring nations.

Building on these efforts, the Committee established a new “LTS 2.0” working group and five-year workplan in 2022 and encouraged States “to voluntarily take measures to ensure that the guidelines were implemented to the greatest extent feasible and practicable,” while emphasizing that UNCOPUOS served as the principal forum for continued multilateral dialogue on issues related to the implementation and review of LTS guidelines. The workplan includes a workshop to be hosted during the next UNCOPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) meeting in February 2024.

Space Resource Activities

The Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resources Activities under the Legal Subcommittee (LSC) of UNCOPUOS is organizing two events in Spring 2024 consistent with its five-year workplan: an in person international conference to be held during the 63rd session of the LSC in Vienna (April 15-26, 2024), as well as an expert meeting to be held in Luxembourg in connection with Space Resources Week (March 25-27, 2024) to collect preliminary inputs for consideration at the international conference. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Working Group have invited UNCOPUOS States members to nominate presenters for both events, which could include nongovernmental experts.

Request: In alignment with the Department of State’s notice on “Private Sector Participation in Domestic and International Events on Spaceflight Safety, Sustainability, and Emerging Markets in Outer Space” of 88 FR 67421, the U.S. Department of State is seeking qualified individuals to participate as private sector presenters in the following events:

• Workshop on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities
• International Conference on space resource activities
• Expert Meeting on space resource activities

*Note these are three separate, independent events

Interested individuals for the Workshop on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities should:

1. 1. Have experience working in the space sector, and particularly on issues concerning the long-term sustainability of outer space activities;
   2. Currently work for a U.S. company, non-governmental organization, or academic institution that focuses on space issues; and
   3. Have expertise and relevant experience in the topic of the workshop.
   4. Individuals interested in presenting at either the international conference in Vienna or the expert meeting in Luxembourg on space resource activities should:
   5. Have experience working in the space sector, and particularly on the scientific, technical, commercial, and/or legal issues related to space resource activities;
   6. Currently work for a U.S. company, non-governmental organization, or academic institution that focuses on space issues; and
   7. Have expertise and relevant experience, including in, but not limited to, the event topics, including:
      • Implications of the existing legal framework for space resource activities;
      • The role of information sharing in support space resource activities;
      • The scope of future space resource activities;
      • Environmental and socioeconomic aspects of space resource activities; and
      • International cooperation in scientific research and technological development of space resource activities.

If selected, individuals will be nominated by the United States to present at the relevant workshop, meeting, or conference. The nature and modality of participation will be determined by the relevant working group, and more likely than not entail presenting during the event.

Logistics for the Workshop on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities:

1. The 61st session of the UNCOPUOS STSC is scheduled to meet January 29 to February 9, 2024 in-person at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria.
2. The workshop will take place on February 6th.
3. Participants are welcome to attend the plenary session of the meeting, though it is not required.
4. Participants will not receive compensation for their time or travel expenses.
5. Consistent with current policy, participants may not be, nor have been at any time during the previous 12 months, registered lobbyists as defined by 2 USC § 1601 et. seq.
6. Participation is subject to the provisions of Public Notice 665: Participation of Private Sector Representatives on U.S. Delegations (44 FR 17846).
7. There may be additional opportunities to participate in side events and workshops during the meeting.

Logistics for the Expert Meeting on Space Resource Activities:

• The expert meeting will take place on March 25-27, 2024 in Luxembourg.
• Participants will not receive compensation for their time or travel expenses.
• Consistent with current policy, participants may not be, nor have been at any time during the previous 12 months, registered lobbyists as defined by 2 USC § 1601 et. seq.
• Participation is subject to the provisions of Public Notice 665: Participation of Private Sector Representatives on U.S. Delegations (44 FR 17846).

Logistics for the International Conference on Space Resource Activities:

• The 57th session of the UNCOPUOS LSC is scheduled to meet April 15 to 26, 2024 in-person at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria.
• Participants would welcome to attend the plenary session of the meeting, though it is not required.
• Participants will not receive compensation for their time or travel expenses.
• Consistent with current policy, participants may not be, nor have been at any time during the previous 12 months, registered lobbyists as defined by 2 USC § 1601 et. seq.
• Participation is subject to the provisions of Public Notice 665: Participation of Private Sector Representatives on U.S. Delegations (44 FR 17846).
• There may be additional opportunities to participate in side events, and other meetings at the discretion of the LSC head of delegation, during the meeting.

How to Participate:

To express interest in participating as a private sector presenter at one or more of these events, please submit the following material to GuliettaRT@state.gov. by October 6, 2023:

1. A brief description of your organization (max 300 words);
2. An explanation of why you would like to participate/present in the workshop and how your experience and expertise are relevant to this topic (max 500 words); and
3. A curriculum vitae.

Please indicate whether you are submitting an expression of interest for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities workshop or the Space Resource Activities international conference and/or expert meeting in the subject line of the email.

The expressions of interest will be reviewed and individuals will be informed if their names will be put forth as nominees to participate by October 10, 2023.