ACES Worldwide's Engagement with UNCOPUOS in 2026
- Steve Gaitten
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Alliance for Collaboration in the Exploration of Space (ACES Worldwide) played an active role in the work of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) in 2026. As a non-governmental organisation, ACES Worldwide operates through its Board of Directors, supported by its Global Advisory Council, and collaborates with partner organisations across several countries.
Dr. Marlène M. Losier represented ACES Worldwide during the 2026 session of the Legal Subcommittee (LSC). The session was also attended by members of ACES Worldwide's Global Advisory Council, including Michelle Lea Desyin Slawecki Hanlon and Dr. Steven Freeland. ACES Worldwide's statement before the Legal Subcommittee is available here.
In 2025, ACES Worldwide was granted Permanent Observer status with UNCOPUOS, subject to obtaining consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) within three years.
Some pictures from the Legal Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS 2026
Written contributions to UNCOPUOS in 2026
During 2026, ACES Worldwide submitted three written contributions that were published as official UNCOPUOS documents.
Space and Sustainability Compact Agreement Initiative (SSCI)
ACES Worldwide submitted a report on its Space and Sustainability Compact Agreement Initiative (SSCI). The SSCI is an ACES Worldwide initiative that promotes collaboration between providers and users of space technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Space2030 Agenda. The initiative seeks to connect specific space applications and services with unmet societal needs around the world through voluntary compact agreements. A trademark application for the SSCI brand has been filed in India.
The first Space and Sustainability Compact Agreement was concluded between Numer8 Analytics Pvt. Ltd., ClimaCrew Private Limited, and the Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change. This initiative supports fishing communities in India by applying satellite Earth observation and remote sensing data to improve decision-making and address local challenges.
ACES Worldwide also facilitated a Compact Agreement in Nepal between Antarikchya Pratisthan Nepal and Navodaya School Nepal to develop a disaster management satellite aimed at reducing earthquake-related casualties and supporting climate action. The project also served as a capacity-building initiative by engaging school students from marginalised communities in space technology and disaster resilience.
By establishing long-term partnerships between space actors and end users, the SSCI provides a framework for continued cooperation beyond the conclusion of the SDG Agenda in 2030.
Report: ACES_Worldwide_A.pdf
Submission to the Action Team on Lunar Activities Coordination (ATLAC)
ACES Worldwide also submitted comments to the Action Team on Lunar Activities Coordination (ATLAC). Drawing upon research undertaken for the forthcoming book Challenges of Living in Space (expected publication in 2026–2027), the submission identified several legal and governance issues requiring further international consideration.
The submission recommended that ATLAC consider:
preserving heritage sites on the Moon and, in the future, on other locations of human exploration;
addressing the removal of debris from lunar orbit and, eventually, from Mars and other celestial bodies;
developing governance frameworks for the extraction, processing, and utilisation of lunar resources, with future application to other celestial bodies; and
clarifying the definition of "celestial bodies" and considering whether different categories—such as planets, moons, asteroids, bolides, and comets—should be treated differently for regulatory purposes.
These recommendations aim to promote greater legal certainty regarding permissible human activities in deep space.
Submission: ACES_Worldwide.pdf
Submission to the Expert Group on Space Situational Awareness
ACES Worldwide also submitted its views to the Expert Group on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) established under the Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities in 2025.
The submission emphasised that while SSA systems are essential for tracking space objects and predicting potential collisions, long-term space sustainability ultimately depends on reducing the underlying causes of orbital congestion. Accordingly, ACES Worldwide submit that national space legislation should require operators to adopt due diligence measures to minimise debris generation before launch, throughout a satellite's operational lifetime, and during end-of-life disposal.
The submission acknowledged that stringent regulatory requirements may not be immediately feasible for every spacefaring nation because of differing national priorities, levels of technological development, access to space sustainability technologies, and national security considerations. Nevertheless, it argued that if even a small number of countries adopt robust legal requirements, they could encourage broader international adoption of similar standards.
Submission: AC105_2026_CRP11E.pdf
Looking ahead
Building on its contributions to UNCOPUOS in 2026, ACES Worldwide looks forward to continuing to support the work of UNCOPUOS in 2027 and to contributing to the discussions and outcomes of UNISPACE IV, further advancing international cooperation in the peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive use of outer space.