SPACE-COMM EXPO SCOTLAND TO HIGHLIGHT AI AND SPACE SUSTAINABILITY FOR A CLEANER, GREENER SPACE

12th August 2024

Space-Comm Expo Scotland will be the biggest space industry event ever held in Scotland and two of the biggest and most contentious challenges for the global space industry, AI and Space Sustainability, will feature prominently at SEC Glasgow on 11-12 Sep.

Don’t miss out on your chance to join us at the inaugural Space-Comm Expo Scotland with over 3,000 attendees, 70 exhibitors and 50 speakers. Registration is free, sign up today at: https://space-comm-scotland.co.uk

Space-Comm Expo Scotland features an exciting two day programme with international experts and thoughts leaders from across the global space industry from government, defence, business and academia including the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency. Across both days AI and Space Sustainability are expected to be high profile topics of debate alongside a range of other challenges and opportunities for a new commercial space age including; launch capabilities, satellite manufacturing, downstream data, cyber security, space law, regulation, investment and skills development.

On day one Professor Massimiliano Vasile, Director of the Aerospace Centre of Excellence at Strathclyde University will host an interactive workshop taking participants on a journey to explore the multiple facets of AI and Space Sustainability. Places are limited on a first come first serve basis, sign up here. Whilst on day two Co-Chair of the Environmental Task Force (ETF) for Space Scotland and Business Development Specialist for CGI Andrew Fournet will moderate a panel session addressing the challenges of long-term usability of outer space and mitigating environmental impacts on Earth. Panels experts include Managing Partner at Alden Joanne Wheeler a space law specialist and External Relations Officer for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Andrew Peebles.

Professor Massimiliano Vasile said: “Space Sustainability is of critical importance and the workshop aims to deliver hands-on experience to highlight how AI can provide innovative solutions and drive sustainable practices. Whether you are directly involved in space operations or simply passionate about the future of sustainable space practices, this workshop promises to deliver valuable insights and practical tools such as NESSY, our cutting edge Network model for Space Sustainability.”

Andrew Fournet said: “Scotland is ideally positioned to be a global leader on the sustainable development of space having published the world’s first Space Sustainability Road Map. The ETF is an action and results driven group with partners including European Space Agency, Friends of the Earth and NatureScot. Our remit is to better understand the impact of the space industry on earth and in low earth orbit to ensure the sector develops sustainably. During the panel we want to explore how we can enhance the UK’s unique selling point of sustainability driven innovation for Earth & Space and why it is important to have end to end design for sustainability. Space-Comm Expo provides a unique platform to ignite more passion and bring people together to raise the profile Space Sustainability, because Space is for all and needs all to collaborate.”

According to UNOOSA space sustainability and debris is a growing concern, with an estimated 34,000 objects larger than 10cm and 900,000 between 1-10cm, and 128 million objects smaller than 1cm orbiting the Earth. Even the smallest fragments can cause substantial damage due to the high velocities. Collision risk has dramatically increased for satellites and space stations and the growth rate of debris objects is escalating due to new satellite launches.

The recent Space Environment Report 2024 published by the European Space Agency (ESA) commented that despite efforts to mitigate against space debris we are creating “unsuitable environment in the long-term”. The most cluttered region is low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 310 and 370 miles with over 6,000 active satellites. In 2023 more than 600 objects came tumbling back to Earth in an uncontrolled manner and SpaceX revealed the 6,200 satellites in its Starlink mega-constellation have had to make almost 50,000 collision-avoidance manoeuvres in the past year.

Space-Comm Expo Scotland is supported by the UK Space Agency, UKSpace, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Government, Space Scotland, South Scotland Enterprise, FinTech Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The award winning format organised by Hub Exhibitions includes exhibitors, product demonstrations, keynote speakers, panel sessions and 1-2-1 networking opportunities.

For more information on exhibiting email: spacecomm@hubexhibitions.co.uk

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