Laura Delgado Lopez
Project Manager
Secure World Foundation
United States

Biography
Laura Delgado L?pez is a project manager for Secure World Foundation (SWF), a private, operating foundation dedicated to the secure and sustainable use of space. Through its Human and Environmental Security initiative, SWF promotes improved governance and cooperation in the delivery and use of information derived from space systems. Of note are Ms. Delgado Lopez? recent positions as Earth observations associate at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and as correspondent for SpacePolicyOnline.com. She holds an M.A. in international science and technology policy from the George Washington University, and a B.A. in political science from the University of Puerto Rico.

Abstract
Policy Challenges of Smallsats for Earth Observations: Case study from the United States

Small satellites are a favorite proving ground for emerging space actors, from new private ventures to teams of university students, and are also increasingly being pursued by established space actors to realize cost benefits while complementing existing capabilities. Industry researchers project that smallsat launches will remain on the rise. A March 2015 Euroconsult report estimates that over 500 smallsats will be launched in the next five years, a two-thirds increase from the average of the previous decade. Many of the new and planned systems are designed to support a myriad of applications in Earth observations, from operational meteorological data, to high-resolution imagery for resource management. At the same time, the growth in smallsat activity also presents a number of policy challenges. A growing body of literature has shed light on regulatory gaps and legal challenges that result from the unique characteristics of these systems and that are often exacerbated by limited awareness from smallsat developers. A recurrent finding is that licensing and policy structures designed for larger systems may need to adapt to balance the need for oversight and regulation of these activities, as required by national and international law, without stifling innovation. From the perspective of Earth observations, these findings become particularly prominent as smallsat capabilities are developed with operational, rather than experimental, goals in mind. Whether aiming to support national security observational needs or weather forecasts, a number of policy, legal, and regulatory steps may need to be taken to enable the integration of smallsat sources of Earth observations. As a growing diversity of users begins to examine the benefits of smallsat platforms and how their data may be used to augment existing datasets, policy will play a key role in addressing these and other challenges related to their use in Earth observations.This presentation will highlight some of the policy challenges that arise with the growth of small satellites in Earth observations by examining existing U.S. policies relevant to Earth observations, and by drawing attention to how industry and government actors are examining these issues. This discussion will thus suggest key policy questions that will need to be considered for policy and other relevant guidance to meet the opportunity and challenge of rapidly growing small activity in this sector.