ASEAN Nations Advance Space Safety and Traffic Management Collaboration

Manila, Philippines – Representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States convened in Manila on March 12-13, 2026, to enhance regional cooperation on space safety and traffic management. The seminar-workshop, hosted by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) in partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), addressed the growing challenges of space congestion and the require for coordinated action.

The Increasing Importance of Space Safety

As economies, disaster response systems, aviation, shipping, and digital connectivity become increasingly reliant on space-based services, the need to protect satellites and their associated infrastructure is paramount. “For ASEAN—a region whose economies, disaster response systems, aviation, shipping, and digital connectivity are deeply dependent on space-based services—the stakes are direct and concrete,” stated ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn. The workshop focused on mitigating risks associated with the increasing number of objects in orbit and ensuring the continued availability of critical space services.

Key Areas of Discussion

The two-day event brought together policymakers, technical experts, and commercial operators to advance a coordinated regional approach through data sharing, transparency, and cooperation. Discussions centered on:

• Space Situational Awareness (SSA): Improving the observation, tracking, and prediction of trajectories of objects in orbit.
• Space Traffic Management (STM): Translating data into actionable insights through communication and operational coordination.
• Space Weather Impacts: Understanding and mitigating the effects of space weather on satellites and critical infrastructure.
• Policy Frameworks: Strengthening policy frameworks to support SSA and coordination efforts.
• Regional Capacity Building: Fostering collaboration, trust, and data-sharing among ASEAN member states.

Addressing Space Debris and Launch Hazards

PhilSA highlighted the growing hazards posed by space debris, particularly from rocket launches and the uncontrolled reentry of rocket stages. “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,” said PhilSA Deputy Director General Dr. Marc Caesar R. Talampas. The Philippines proposed broadening the scope of the regional SSA/STM framework to encompass the entire lifecycle of a space object, from launch through reentry, and to develop coordinated protocols for protection.

Enhanced Collaboration with UNOOSA

Following the seminar-workshop, PhilSA and UNOOSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance collaboration in several key areas, including space law, the use of space-based information for disaster risk reduction and emergency response, capacity-building, and public engagement. Initiatives include a public lecture on space law and the global release of PhilSA’s children’s activity book, “Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan!” which will be translated into all six official UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Towards an ASEAN Declaration on Space Cooperation

The Philippines, as ASEAN Chair for 2026, is proposing an ASEAN Declaration on Space Cooperation to formalize a shared regional vision for strengthening collaboration in space science, technology, and innovation. “More than a formal statement, this declaration reflects a shared regional vision to strengthen collaboration in space science, technology, and innovation, including cooperation in SSA and STM,” explained PhilSA Ad Interim Director General Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn echoed this sentiment, calling the anticipated declaration “the most consequential commitment in this domain this year,” and emphasizing the importance of responsible, secure, and forward-looking space governance.

The Role of Data Sharing

A key takeaway from the workshop, as emphasized by UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini, is the critical role of data sharing in ensuring space safety. “What protects satellites, investments, and ultimately the services that space provides to our economies and our societies, is when that data is shared in what we call space traffic coordination. Space traffic coordination allows data to be translated into action. When operators communicate with each other, they can maneuver safely out of each other’s way,” she stated.