The international framework for India to actively participate in the development space for responsible behavior: EU Envoy

EU Space Envoy Marjolijn Van Deelen. Photo: eeas.europa.eu

EU Space Envoy Marjolijn van Deelen said India could be a very active player in developing an international framework for responsibility for behavior, while marking debris from anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons testing as well as rendezvous and joint and affinity operations (RPOs), threatening the satellite’s main problem.

As India and the EU seek to deepen strategic cooperation, they also hope to hold a “space dialogue” as the first step in cooperation in the space field.

“I think it is important to work together to study the international agreements that we want to regulate these RPOs in some way… to what is OK, what is good, what is not OK. To this end, we have established this framework for responsible behavior and India’s norms, rules and principles that India and the EU can cooperate to regulate in our way so that we have to work hard while having our threats and our scope. Hindu. “RPO itself is not necessarily a problem. You don’t want to solve a solution that kills all the program and civilian benefits we can get from it.”

A rendezvous and proximity operation (or RPO) refers to a spacecraft that intentionally manipulates a dock or operates near another space object.

Asked if ASAT testing in India is a question, the envoy said: “ASAT creation of fragments is something that should be focused on all countries, and we have already talked about that, which is why the EU supports destructive ASAT testing in the context of the United Nations. Here, the term “destructive” is the key here.”

Regarding whether there are follow-up questions about the dialogue on India’s ASAT program, she replied that no discussion has been made and that her conversation here will be “about how we work together”.

In March 2019, India announced a successful demonstration of ASAT capabilities, following the destruction of a live-fire satellite in low-Earth orbit at 300 kilometers and a new three-stage interceptor missile in a “strike kill” mode.

Speaking of the highest issue, the envoy’s subsequent visit came after the European Commission’s historic visit led by President Ursula von der Leyen, who noted that several countries had tested ASAT weapons. “But we’re also seeing the deception and deception of the network in space, which is a threat to providing services to our citizens. We’re also seeing the RPO, which basically involves getting satellites very close to your satellite, if that’s not notified and if we don’t have a friendly relationship, then we need a sensitive person, and if we don’t want to, we can say that, it’s a very friendly thing… in terms of security.”

She observed that there are also debris cycles in space, making it difficult for operators to operate satellites safely, and of course, any accident can happen in unexpected ways.

Last week, the envoy’s visit to India coincided with the global technology summit coordinated by Carnegie India with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and she was the speaker. She said gatherings are also an opportunity to interact with various stakeholders.

In the proposed space dialogue, she said the space sector itself needs to be adjusted so that both parties can see the differences or gaps that need to be addressed or whether anything can be done to help create a vibrant environment that enables the business to operate. Ms Van Deelen said: “I really hope we can deepen our engagement and build a space safety conversation so that we can sit down with all the actors in every aspect and dive into all these topics.”

The EU will introduce a space bill in the coming months, allowing the envoy to say it is a tool designed for European competitiveness. While reiterating its irregular third parties, she said the bill sought to ensure EU companies work closer together to allow the group to “not get 27 personal space programs, but do it more together”. She added: “…but they also respect certain security measures and sustainability measures because we want our industry to stick to these principles. That’s what the act is designed to do.”