SGC Working Groups

The following is a list of Working Group topics that will be the focus of SGC2024

European Space Agency

Space Applications for socio economic development and ensure sustainability on Earth

Working Group #1

The working group will investigate how space assets—such as earth observation satellites and space-based sensors—can be harnessed to deliver real-world solutions for societal issues. The goal is to explore the downstream applications of space technology and help unlock the full potential of space for the betterment of life on Earth and ensure sustainability. From tracking illegal fishing activities to monitoring climate change, delegates will investigate the cutting-edge developments that allow data from space to be transformed into actionable insights. This includes collaborating with the burgeoning commercial space sector, which has seen significant growth in recent years as private companies increasingly drive innovation. The commercialization of space-based applications has made satellite data more accessible and affordable, enabling non-space industries to leverage space technology for improved decision-making, urban planning, resource management, and sustainable development as a whole. The working group will, then, also investigate public-private partnerships and existing commercial solutions as incubators and funding opportunities to help to bridge the gap between space innovation and its practical benefits on the earth.

UK Space Agency

Avoiding a space sustainability tipping point – urgent challenges and how to tackle them

Working Group #2

The space operating environment is becoming congested with thousands of old and new satellites and at increasing risk due to issues such as orbital debris, congestion, and potential collisions.  If we are to continue to benefit from space, then new technologies, services and regulations must be developed to maintain and sustain it.  

The data says it all.  There are estimated to be over 40,000 pieces of debris measuring greater than 10cm in orbit and a million measuring 1-10cm; filings for radio spectrum permits with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) between 2017 and 2022 suggest future launches of more than 300 constellations and a million satellites; and there is a cluster of around 350 derelict space objects at 975 km altitude presenting a 26% probability of accidental collision right now, modeled to increase to 34% by 2039.  

Therefore, urgent action is crucial if we are to avoid reaching a tipping point for space as with climate change. 

NASA Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate

Working Group #3

Participants in this breakout session will use NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives in an engaging mission planning simulation that mirrors NASA’s Architecture Concept Review process. Delegates will experience firsthand the challenges of developing a mission architecture in a dynamic environment across different scientific, engineering, and political stakeholders. In considering the balance between technical requirements, hardware elements, mission goals, and risk considerations, the group will better understand the benefits of architecting based on clear objectives and evaluating various perspectives prior to executing capabilities development.

NASA Earth Sciences

Bringing Earth Science to Action for Our Oceans

Working Group #4

NASA has been working to better understand our home planet from the unique vantage point of space since the first TIROS satellites launched in the 1960s. Today, with more than two dozen Earth-observing satellites and instruments, it’s clearer than ever that our planet is an interconnected system.

Covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface and accounting for 97% of the Earth’s water, our oceans are a major contributor to the balance of this system. The oceans have a significant impact on global climate and peoples’ livelihoods, especially on the coasts. Prior to satellite data, most of what we have learned about the oceans came from infrequent measurements collected from ships, buoys, and drifters. The advent of ocean-observing satellites has launched a new era of marine discovery. Remotely sensed satellite data and modeling techniques enables the global mapping of the ocean surface, sea-ice extent, temperature, changing coastlines, sea level rise, coastal inundation, and more. From the 1978 launch of Seasat, the first civilian oceanographic satellite, to the 2024 launch of Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE), NASA remote sensing has opened doors to new ocean science and applications. NASA’s Earth Science to Action Strategy aims to connect this science to decisions, then feed information back to scientists so they can deliver valuable information to global decision makers.

In this Working Group, NASA’s goal is to bring the principles of Earth Science to Action for our oceans. Delegates will be asked to envision what our future oceans look like 2-3 decades from now, including what data and information we have available to inform decisions; the kind of actions that support the health of ocean and coasts; and the decisions that are being informed by ocean science data each day. Then, delegates will bring this future to life by brainstorming how we might be able to achieve that future, including what kind of science and actions are needed now. Delegates should be prepared to discuss current issues and potential solutions related to our oceans and coasts.

NASA recognizes the importance of gathering perspectives from young people around the world with various backgrounds. Delegates are encouraged to consider multiple local perspectives, even those that may be contradictory to one another, to generate a balanced discussion that considers social, economic, and environmental priorities and values.

Special Track

SGAC Advocacy and Policy

Working Group #5

Since 2021, SGAPP has released a yearly report outlining SGAC’s policy position on key topics relevant to the younger generation, such as Lunar governance and climate action. The overarching objective is to present a unified voice within the global space community by developing, advocating, and implementing cohesive space policy positions on behalf of the youth, as well as coordinating, consolidating, and disseminating space policy activities conducted within SGAC. In 2023, recognizing the critical importance of space sustainability for our shared future in space, SGAC mandated a team to produce a report supporting the elaboration of a sustainability “pact” between generations, one that will foster synergy between space stakeholders and raise awareness on the necessity to achieve space sustainability. This “Intergenerational Pact for Space Sustainability” (IPASS) aims to articulate the organization’s vision for a safe and sustainable space environment, fostering unity within the global space community. It identifies key topics that should be addressed by policymakers when discussing the long-term sustainability of space activities and considers different avenues to achieve the Pact’s desired outcomes.

Those involved in the WG will use the 2024 policy paper “Towards An Intergenerational Pact for Space Sustainability” and recommend how the wider SGAC can implement its positions.