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COSPAR (online)
What is COSPAR?
The Committee on Space Research is a scientific body that had its origin in 1960’s, during the period of the so-called Cold War, after being decreed by the International Science Council. Its main function is linked to scientific aspects related to space issues. COSPAR discusses the main problems in space research and tries to act as an intermediary in interdisciplinary relationships that seek to solve problems in the matter.
Its legislation starts from a board of national and international scientific organizations, which nominate a board of directors with a president and executive director with coordinators of the secretariat / directors / coordinators who fulfill different positions.
Throughout the year, COSPAR organizes an assembly that part in subcommittees based on different areas of outer space, seeking to create a safe environment and decree the greatest areas of opportunity among scientists selected by scientific institutions. The following discussion topics are proposed for this simulation:
Topic A: “Measures against unregistered spatial assets that may present menaces of pollution and health risks to Earth.”
In the last decade, the space sector has been completely exploited in all its aspects. One of the effects of this trend is that new private space agencies have omitted and violated international treaties and rules on outer space. Mission saturation has caused quite a few gaps in outer space, with unregistered missions, highly polluting objects, projects that do not contain approval or have insecure feasibility, etc. Any private space exploration organization should follow the established space protocols, the purpose of which is to dictate and infer to each national space agency the obligations and responsibilities so that, when carried out, bring more benefits than damages.
The purpose of the topic implies that the scientific representatives (delegates), through their debate, seek the best option to achieve the regulation of situations that vulnerate the security and future of our planet, in regard to highly polluting objects, such as the so-called “space debris”, which can include objects with a high concentration of radioactivity.
Topic B: “Establishing ground rules on possible conflicts of life detection experiments and settlement creation as a way to achieve a safer Mars exploration.”
In recent times there is more and more talk about the possibility of exploring and colonizing Mars. The latest data provided by exploration missions has reached each national space agency, causing many of them to seek to join the challenge of turning Mars into a habitable place in the near future. Different organizations, even of a private nature, have been involved, and even carried, out missions directed towards that planet, either by analysis using satellites or launching of drones and other mechanisms that allow a more complete vision of the "red planet".
Now, although the possibility of inhabiting Mars in the future sounds increasingly credible, the various implications that the exploration and colonization processes could bring, must be taken into account to make them as less harmful as possible.
Thus, on this topic, scientific advisers (delegates) are required to maintain a vision towards the future, considering the impacts that missions to Mars may have. As a panel function, it is important to ensure protection and security in the exploration and colonization processes.
For the same reason, delegates of COSPAR must seek to deliberate the establishment of measures to avoid the possible contamination of Mars, as well as solutions and recommendations to avoid meteorological or radioactive tragedies in the future, seeking to create the conditions and regulations to achieve a safe outlook for the future of the aforementioned processes.
Scientific advisors summoned to COSPAR:
Scientific advisors appointed by national space agencies:
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Eleonora Ammannito (Italian Space Agency, Italy)
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Alexandr Bloshenko (ROSCOSMOS, Russia)
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Masaki Fujimoto (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Japan)
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Sarah Gallagher (Canadian Space Agency, Canada)
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James Green (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA)
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Praveen Kumar Kuttanpillai (Indian Space Research Organization, India)
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Christian Mustin (French Space Agency, France)
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Karen Olsson-Francis (UK Space Agency, United Kingdom)
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Jing Peng (China National Space Administration, China)
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Petra Rettberg (German Aerospace Center, Germany)
Scientists representing COSPAR scientific commissions:
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Peter Doran (Louisiana State University, USA)
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Olivier Grasset (Nantes University, France)
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Alex Hayes (Cornell University, USA)
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Viacheslav Ilyin (Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia)
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Akiko Nakamura (Kobe University, Japan)
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Olga Prieto-Ballesteros (Centro de Astrobiología, Spain)
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François Raulin (Université de Paris, France)
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Kanyan Xu (Chinese Academy of Space Technology, China)
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Maxim Zaitsev (Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia)
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María-Paz Zorzano Mier (Centro de Astrobiología, Spain)
Member ex-officio:
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Colleen Hartman (Space Studies Board, USA)