CELEBRATING UN INTL. DAY OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT -APRIL 12

Humankind entered a new dimension of endless possibilities for space exploration on April 12, 1961. Decades later this date is used to internationally recognize and commemorate the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen. This advancement for humanity created a new world of opportunities that has helped develop many of the technologies we now take for granted. With this step forward has come great responsibility and increasing challenges for what space exploration means for our global community of nations. To commemorate what has also come to be known as Yuri's Night, The Futures Forum will be hosting the fourth Annual Space Futures Forum online under the theme “How We Share Space” from 9am to 1pm EDT.

The United Nations (UN) developed the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in 1958 in response to a need for space governance and laws. The UN serves as the primary facilitator of the collection of international, regional, or national laws regarding regulatory institutions and standards for space related affairs and activities. UNOOSA was largely developed to prevent the militarization and colonization of space, but this was only when the United States and The Soviet Union were space exploration actors. Now over 70 nations possess space agencies, with 14 of them capable of spaceflight or launch.?

In addition to the development of UNOOSA, the U.N. created an ad hoc committee to, “govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all humanity: for peace, security and development.” The ad hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) created and implemented five original treaties. The first and most important being the Outer Space Treaty (OST) in 1967 that contains a basic framework for international space governance and regulations. It includes 17 articles all centering around the idea that space exploration be used solely for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of humankind.?Recent developments of growing private sector and other non-traditional players in the race for space exploration calls for a discussion on whether international space laws should be revisited or revised.

As we commemorate International Human Space Flight Day it is important to reflect on how far humanity has advanced in its technological developments and what that means for our future. The global online Space Futures Forum will address the theme “How We Share Space” and will be hosted by leading futurist Dr. Claire A. Nelson, Founding Convenor of the Caribbean Space Society and the Space Futures Forum. The event will open with Remarks on Advancing Emerging Economies with Dr.Val Munsami, Chancellor of the International Space University.

This will be followed by Roundtable discussion on Advancing Foundational Space Capacity. This session will be moderated by Hon Engineer James Rege, CBS of Kenya and Chair of Omarichet. Panelists include: Motolani Fadahunsi-Banjo of the Nigeria Space Agency; George Profitiloitis, Greek NewSpace Society; Hamza Hameed, Space Generation Advisory Council; and Rose Croshier, Center for Global Development.

Following this at 10:00 am EST, the panel will focus on Advancing Sustainability and include speakers such as Elridge DeMelo of the Space Generation Advisory Council in Finland, Dr. Mamta Patel Nagaraja of the USA National Aeronautical and Space Agency, Marco Romero of the Angolan Space Agency and Jessie Ndaba, CTO, Astrofica Technologies in South Africa. This panel will be moderated by Enanga Fale of Northrop Grumman and NSBE Aerospace Interest Group.

At 11:00 AM the roundtable will address Advancing Education. Dr William Edmonson of MaxIQ, will lead the discussion with Judi Sandrock of XinaBox, Kevin Dillon of NSBE, Kim Macharia, Board Chair of the Space Frontier Foundation, and Dr. Niebert Blair of the Caribbean Space Society.

The closing roundtable will feature a conversation on 'The Futures We Want' and will include: Dr Shirin Haque, Astrophysicist from University of the West Indies, Jas Purewal, Founder of the Analog Astronaut Community and Conference, Nompumelelo N.S Nzimande, leading space law and finance expert from South Africa, and Keisha Schahaff, Future Citizen Astronaut on Virgin Galatica from Antigua.

You can register at https://bit.ly/YURISNight2022 to join the Conversation or to watch. Watch this space as we bring up more updates on our celebration of this historic day.?