Publications & Press

Outer Space Institute Statement on the Duty to Assist Persons in Distress

OSI Fellow and Research Coordinator Beatriz Paiva Soeiro presented a statement at the plenary session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) on June 30th, 2025. The statement addressed agenda item 15, discussing the duty to assist persons in distress and recommending a broad interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty (OST) Article V.

Watch Beatriz speak at this link, beginning at 2:01:50
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1f/k1fdsg7x6u

Outer Space Institute Statement on Notices to Lunar Missions (NLMs)

OSI Junior Fellow Charlotte Hook presented a statement to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Legal Subcommittee on May 8th, 2025, partaking in a general exchange of views on potential legal models for activities in the exploration, exploitation and utilization of space resources and discussing the implementation of Notices to Lunar Missions (NLMs).

Watch Charlotte speak at this link, beginning at 1:21:00 https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1jz5z3dg8

Comment on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) consultation on Changes to Licensing Requirements and Conditions of Licence on Space Debris Mitigation

OSI Fellows and Junior Fellows submitted this comment in response to ISED’s proposed framework for consideration of debris mitigation via station-keeping, collision avoidance, and end-of-life considerations, among others. Our comment intends to support for debris mitigation measures, suggest improved methods, and emphasize the need to protect Dark and Quiet Skies and the Earth-Space environment.

New Moon: A Cislunar Security Workshop Report

On March 1 and 2, 2024, experts from a variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and countries gathered on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada, to discuss existing and foreseeable security-related challenges arising from activities on-and-around the Moon. The workshop and the accompanying research, analysis, and consultations were conducted by the Space Security Network (SSN) and the Outer Space Institute (OSI).

This report is the result of the discussions of the workshop, along with the adoption of the “Moby’s Recommendations on Lunar and Cislunar Security”, which are named after one of the workshop dinner venues. The intended audience for the recommendations is broad, and includes governments, industry, and inter-governmental and nongovernmental organizations. The recommendations are reproduced at the end of this report.

© Aaron Boley and Michael Byers, Outer Space Institute Report, November 2024.

Outer Space Institute

Outer Space Institute
The University of British Columbia
225-6224 Agricultural Rd.
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Canada

coord@outerspaceinstitute.ca

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