Actively Cleaning Outer Space

Event Status
Scheduled
A view of earth from outer space

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the Strauss Center will welcome Charity Weeden, vice president of global space policy and government relations at Astroscale, to discuss “Actively Cleaning Outer Space: A Need for Predictability and Transparency of the Trackable Anthropogenic Space Object Population.” Her talk will explore the need for accurate measuring of risk in the consideration of licenses for space activities and the emerging challenges in characterizing space operations. Weeden’s talk will also address collision probability, capping risk, monitoring and enforcing rules as well as the trends in “transparency” for satellite operators. This talk will be a part of our Brumley Speaker Series.

The LBJ Plaza is located between the LBJ School for Public Affairs and the LBJ Presidential Library.

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Please note: Format is subject to change, as we are continually monitoring health conditions. Masking and social distancing are optional but highly recommended. For those students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms prior to the event, please refrain from attending the event. We will maintain a roster of all attendees and will provide the list to UT Health Austin for contact tracing purposes.

Biography

Charity Weeden is vice president, global space policy, at Astroscale U.S., coordinating and synchronizing Astroscale’s global policy efforts toward spaceflight safety and long-term space sustainability.

She brings a rich experience as an operator, manager, diplomat and advocate for the space community. Prior to Astroscale, she established a consulting company dedicated to supporting new space companies navigate the U.S. regulatory environment. She previously served as senior director of policy at the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), responsible for advancing U.S. satellite industry interests in government services, regulatory, legislative, defense, export-control and trade. Prior to SIA, she served as the Canadian embassy assistant attaché for air and space operations, where she facilitated Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) space engagements with the U.S. government, industry and the embassy community.

Weeden is a 23-year veteran of the RCAF, starting her career as a CP-140 (P-3) maritime patrol air navigator conducting airborne maritime surveillance operations, followed by assignments as deputy sensor manager for the U.S. Space Surveillance Network at U.S. Air Force Space Command; policy officer at NORAD and USNORTHCOM; and as flight support operations manager at the Canadian Space Agency. She currently serves as chair of the FAA Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, is a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and volunteers as a mentor for the Brooke Owens Fellowship.

Weeden received her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a master’s degree in space science from the University of North Dakota. She is an alumnus of the International Space University summer session program.

Date and Time
Sept. 21, 2021, All Day
Location
LBJ Plaza/Breezeway