The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), together with the Permanent Mission of the Philippines in Vienna, participated in the 61st Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) held in Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria, from 29 January to 09 February 2024.
Space Technology Missions and Systems Bureau Director Dr. Marc Caesar R. Talampas and Space International Cooperation Division Supervising Science Research Specialist Ms. Mary Angelie B. Sto. Domingo delivered national statements during the STSC UN COPUOS session, while PhilSA Earth Sciences Space Mission Studies Division Senior Science Research Specialist Ms. Jeniffer D. De Maligaya provided a technical presentation on Philippine Space Data Mobilization for Enhancing Disaster Resilience.
61st SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AND INTRODUCTION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED ON NATIONAL ACTIVITIES”
delivered by
DR. MARC CAESAR R. TALAMPAS, Ph.D.
DIRECTOR IV
SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSIONS AND SYSTEMS BUREAU
PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PhilSA)
Thank you, Chair.
Chair and distinguished delegates,
On behalf of the Philippine delegation, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Director Aarti Holla-Maini for her appointment as the new Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in June 2023. Director Holla-Maini is assured of the Philippines’ full support in its crucial work to ensure the peaceful uses of outer space. We would also like to express our appreciation to Mr. Niklas Hedman for his leadership during the 60th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) held on 06-17 February 2023.
Chair,
The Philippines, as an emerging space-capable nation, will ensure adherence to the rules, regulations, and commitments made under the five United Nations treaties and principles on outer space while conducting its space activities, as well as the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. The country is fully aware of the importance of these treaties and guidelines in promoting peace and ensuring sustainability in outer space.
Allow us to share that the Philippines successfully launched two (2) of its cube satellites, named Maya-5 and Maya-6, to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2023 and were successfully deployed in space on 19 July 2023. Notably, these satellites were developed by Filipino graduate students from the University of the Philippines, showcasing our commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and expertise in the field of space technology.
Furthermore, we would like to share the continued development of the Philippines’ Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite. Filipino engineers are actively working with an international partner within a comprehensive capacity-building program for industrial satellite development. The MULA satellite, a 130kg medium-resolution Earth observation satellite, is primarily designed for agricultural monitoring missions, thereby bolstering our food security initiatives. We eagerly anticipate the launch of MULA into orbit and its operational commencement in 2025.
The Philippines leverages international collaboration and expertise to advance our space science and technology capabilities. We are collaborating with the European Union on the National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme for the Philippines, known as CopPhil. CopPhil integrates with our efforts in the Philippines in mobilizing space data products for enhancing the efficiency of science-based policy and decision-making. The Philippines will host a Copernicus Data Mirror site, thus improving the accessibility and distribution of Earth observation data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites of the European Space Agency within the country and the region. Under the program, we shall also be implementing three pilot services focusing on ground motion monitoring, land cover and forest mapping services, and benthic habitat monitoring services.
Our commitment to global collaboration and knowledge-sharing is further exemplified by our participation in both the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) and the Pan-Asia Partnership for Geospatial Air Pollution Information Project and the Pandora Asia Network (PAPGAPI-PAN). These engagements position the Philippines as an active participant in international efforts to utilize multi-platform observation for air quality monitoring and modeling. We will be hosting the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Technical Commission V Education and Outreach Symposium this year, which will serve as another platform to engage the international community in capacity building.
Recognizing the increasing accessibility of space data and technology, we are dedicated to broadening local understanding and awareness of their applications and benefits. The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is expanding its collaborative efforts by establishing several data-sharing agreements with various Philippine government agencies. These partnerships focus on leveraging space data to contribute to digital transformation efforts of our government towards ensuring good governance.
Finally, Mr. Chair, in recognition of the pivotal role played by space science and technology applications in our national development, we are happy to share news that our President, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has proclaimed the 8th to 14th of August each year as Philippine Space Week. This initiative enhances space awareness, honors the remarkable contributions of Filipinos in space science globally, and underscores the significance and impact of SSTA on Filipino lives.
Thank you, Chair
61st SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6 “SPACE DEBRIS”
delivered by
MARY ANGELIE B. STO. DOMINGO
SUPERVISING SCIENCE RESEARCH SPECIALIST
SPACE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DIVISION
PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PhilSA)
Thank you, Chair.
Distinguished colleagues,
On behalf of the Philippine delegation, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Chair, and to the dedicated staff at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) for the 61st session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
The Philippines recognizes space debris as a global concern that requires urgent attention and proactive management. As space activities continue to expand, bringing with them numerous benefits and opportunities, they also introduce challenges in ensuring the safe and sustainable use of outer space. This extends to understanding both the short- and long-term implications of space debris in low Earth orbit, as well as the impact of re-entering debris on the Earth’s surface.
As an emerging space capable nation, we would like to reiterate the Philippines’ full support and commitment to the implementation of the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and the Space 2030 Agenda.
Chair,
The Philippines, through the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), created the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Orbital Debris Protocols, a composition of the relevant government departments tasked to formulate the appropriate responses to space vehicle launches and reentries from outer space activities that could potentially pose risks to the country. The TWG conducted an Orbital Debris Scenario Planning workshop in which participants from various Philippine government agencies provided the necessary information that will help in formulating the country’s response protocol.
Also, in support of space debris mitigation, PhilSA led a space situational awareness training workshop in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Through the workshop, experts were able to share knowledge on space situational awareness through the use of software tools for debris risk assessment, mitigation, and collision avoidance, among others.
The Philippines, as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, engages in activities to forge space cooperation in ASEAN. We hosted and participated in a regional workshop on space situational awareness and space traffic management which resulted in a concept note that was later endorsed to the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI). The Philippines appreciates the active participation and support from the delegates of other ASEAN Members States in the workshop and hopes to sustain and expand these engagements further.
We recognize the role of regional cooperation platforms such as the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) in providing avenues for discussion on space-related topics or issues among different stakeholders from both government and private sector, as well as from academic institutions. Particularly, the APRSAF working groups contribute to promoting safety and cooperation in conducting space activities, as well as in recognizing the importance of addressing space debris for ensuring the sustainable use of outer space.
In conclusion, as the global space community continues to push the boundaries of knowledge in outer space that bring scientific and technological gains, inspiration, hope and productive benefits to humankind, we must also come together to address attendant challenges such as space debris. Through international cooperation, information sharing, and continuous effort in research and development, we believe that we will arrive at innovative and sustainable solutions to reducing or eliminating space debris threats and thus help preserve the outer space environment for future generations.
The Philippines reiterates our full support of the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines of COPUOS and commends the efforts being made by member agencies of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee.
Thank you, Chair.
61st SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 11 “LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUTER SPACE ACTIVITIES”
delivered by
MARY ANGELIE B. STO. DOMINGO
SUPERVISING SCIENCE RESEARCH SPECIALIST
SPACE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DIVISION
PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PhilSA)
Thank you, Chair.
Allow us first to take this opportunity to congratulate Director Aarti Holla-Maini for her appointment as the new Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) last June 2023. Director Holla-Maini is assured of the Philippines’ full support in its crucial work to ensure the peaceful uses of outer space.
The Philippines reiterates its commitment to the preamble and 21 Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (or the LTS Guidelines), which was adopted in 2019 during the 62nd Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). The country notes with great importance the call to adhere to the LTS Guidelines, which will confidently establish the foundation of the conduct of space activities for present and future generations. We firmly believe that this will ensure the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.
The cooperation and support of both public and private space actors play an indispensable role in realizing the objectives of the LTS Guidelines. The adherence therefore, to these guidelines by the member states is of prime importance.
We would also like to highlight that the Philippines has always strongly advocated for the preservation of the outer space environment and promotion of international law, as expressed in the statement made by our Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Enrique A. Manalo during the 78th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in 2023 where the Philippines advocated “for the peaceful uses of outer space, the elaboration of the principle of due regard in the space domain and greater responsibility among states to reduce space threats, including debris from rocket launches”.
Chair and distinguished colleagues,
We would like to inform you that the national ratification process of the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (or the Liability Convention) and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (or the Registration Convention) is still on-going.
While we are still in the process of ratification, we assure the Chair and this subcommittee that the Philippines abides with its commitment to implement the said conventions as evidently stipulated under our law, specifically under Republic Act No. 11363 or Philippine Space Act of 2019. Consistent and truthful to this commitment, we do share that the Philippines has submitted the registration requirements for our two (2) CubeSats, Maya-5 and Maya-6.
Chair,
The Philippines believes that we need to educate the future generations on the importance of international law in outer space for peace and sustainability. In line with this, we are delighted to share that the Philippines, through the Philippine Space Agency officially launched the children’s book entitled “Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan!” (or “Tala and her Journey to Space”) with the objective of positively influencing the youth, increasing public awareness and support for space science and technology, policy, and diplomacy activities.
In closing, the Philippines recognizes the importance of international cooperation in the implementation of the Long-term Sustainability Guidelines and commends the work of this subcommittee and the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.
Thank you, Chair.