Session 1 (12 March 2026) : Overview of the Regional SSA/STM Landscape

Philippine position as delivered by PhilSA Deputy Director General Marc Caesar R. Talampas, Ph.D.

As a nation with limited space assets but with aspirations to expand them, acquiring Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities is integral for the Philippines, alongside developing more satellites and building a domestic space industry. It cannot be denied that SSA plays a crucial role in enabling safety, security, and sustainability in outer space activities.

SSA is an important tool for the Philippines as it continues to ensure the safety of our space assets. Through SSA, our operators can predict and, if possible, avoid potential collisions between our satellites and other space objects. As an emerging spacefaring nation, we underscore that our satellites are substantial investments that have continued to contribute to our socioeconomic development, and therefore, must be protected.

We also wish to draw attention to a dimension of safety that our regional SSA/STM conversations do not yet fully address: the ascent and reentry phases of rocket launches. As global launch rates continue to accelerate, debris shed during staging events and the uncontrolled reentry of large rocket upper stages pose growing hazards — not only to other spacecraft, but to civil aviation and to populations on the ground. This interface between space operations and the inhabited world below demands our collective attention and, we believe, belongs within the SSA/STM conversation.

Other than the utilization of SSA for the safety of both space assets and life, we also recognize the importance of collectively pursuing the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. We believe that effective space sustainability practices are essential to prevent collisions, protect valuable orbital regions, and ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from space exploration and utilization. It is imperative to take into account the provisions listed under the Guidelines on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTS Guidelines), and Action 56 of the UN Pact for the Future.

On Action 56 of the UN Pact for the Future, we reiterate our full support for the reaffirmation of UN Member States to discuss the establishment of new frameworks for space traffic, space debris, and space resources through the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

While we note the increasing relevance of space science and technology applications (SSTA) to our everyday lives, we must also be clear-eyed about the security dimensions of an increasingly active space environment. Due to the critical relevance of and high vulnerability of space assets and infrastructure for both civilians and the military, they have become potential targets in future conflicts.

We believe that SSA can make space deterrence more effective given its potential to identify aggressors, thereby deterring and disincentivizing certain aggressive actions on space-based assets.

Taken together, these three dimensions — safety, sustainability, and security – make the case for why global and regional cooperation in SSA is not merely beneficial, but essential. By working together, we can strengthen our collective capabilities and develop a shared understanding of the space environment, including shared practices that contribute to safer and more sustainable use of outer space.

The Philippines invites our ASEAN partners to consider broadening the scope of our regional SSA/STM framework to include the complete arc of a space object’s life — from launch through reentry — and to explore how our region can develop coordinated protocols and capabilities that protect both our space assets and our people on the ground.

For its part, the Philippines remains committed to sustained dialogue on SSA through bilateral, regional, and multilateral platforms, and we look forward to this workshop as an opportunity to advance that conversation. We believe that together, ASEAN can set a standard for the safe, responsible, and sustainable use of outer space for the benefit of all.