Our Vision
Secure World Foundation envisions the secure, sustainable and peaceful uses of outer space contributing to global stability and benefits on Earth.
Our Mission
The mission of the Secure World Foundation is to work with governments, industry, international organizations, and civil society to develop and promote ideas and actions to achieve the secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of outer space benefiting Earth and all its peoples.
Why We Are Here
With the end of the Cold War and rapid spread of access to information, more of humanity is seeking to obtain the security and socioeconomic benefits that space systems can provide. This trend, in turn, is promoting rapid growth in the number of space actors. The growth in stakeholders benefitting from space systems has exposed the limitations of existing global legal, policy, technical, and operational regimes to preserve the space environment.
At this point, just one half century into the Space Age, the Foundation believes it has a unique opportunity to play a role in establishing the secure and sustainable use of the space domain. Central to this opportunity are: increasing the knowledge about the space environment and the need to maintain it, promoting international cooperation and dialog, and helping all space actors realize the benefits that space can provide.
The Challenges
As a global commons over which no country has sovereignty, outer space presents a particular challenge to the international community. The Foundation holds the core belief that without international cooperation focused on creating appropriate institutional and legal mechanisms to govern behavior in outer space the world could suffer the well-known “tragedy of the commons.” This refers to a dilemma in which multiple actors, working independently, and rationally consulting their own self-interest, ultimately deplete a shared limited resource even when it is clear that it is not in anyone’s long-term interest for that to happen. Articulating measures to prevent the loss of use of outer space is one of the primary motivations for forming Secure World Foundation. Cooperative and collaborative solutions for space sustainability and usability also provide increased interdependence and interconnectedness on Earth, which increases the world’s security.
Organizational Values
With such an important and timely mission, the Foundation has high expectations of its employees, contractors and partners. We strive to be a trusted and objective source of leadership and information on space security, sustainability and other matters within the Foundation’s interest. We use a global and long-term lens to examine proposed solutions to the governance of outer space. While recognizing the complexities of the international political and legal environment, the Foundation seeks to encourage and build relationships with all willing stakeholders in outer space – government, commercial, military, civil society and academia-seeking mutual respect and trust.
Our Methods
The Foundation engages with the space and other relevant communities to support steps that encourage the long term sustainability of outer space and the effective use of space to benefit humanity. It works through three primary methods:
- Informing: The Foundation generates research and analysis for decision-makers to promote creation of sound policy and raise awareness of key issues that may threaten the security, sustainability and utility of outer space.
- Facilitating: The Foundation convenes timely public and private meetings with stakeholders on key issues to encourage discussion and constructive dialogue for next steps in support of its mission.
- Promoting: When viable solutions or next steps become apparent, the Foundation formulates and disseminates policy positions that are aligned with its vision and mission in order to move them from idea to implementation.
