The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), in partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, gathered regional leaders in Manila on March 12–13, 2026 to strengthen cooperation on satellite safety and space traffic management.
The ASEAN Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) Seminar-Workshop brought together policymakers, technical experts, and commercial operators to address increasing risks from space congestion, including satellite collisions and orbital debris.
“For ASEAN, whose economies, disaster response systems, aviation, shipping, and digital connectivity depend on space-based services, the stakes are direct and concrete,” said Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of the ASEAN.
Discussions focused on improving the tracking of objects in orbit, predicting satellite trajectories, and coordinating responses to avoid collisions. Participants also examined how space weather affects satellites and critical infrastructure, and pushed for stronger regional policies and data-sharing systems.
“What protects satellites, investments, and ultimately the services that space provides is when data is shared through space traffic coordination,” said Aarti Holla-Maini, director of UNOOSA. “When operators communicate with each other, they can maneuver safely out of each other’s way.”
PhilSA also showcased efforts to monitor rocket launches and falling debris within Philippine territory.
“As global launch rates accelerate, debris from rocket stages and uncontrolled reentries pose growing hazards to spacecraft, aviation, and people on the ground,” said Marc Caesar R. Talampas.
The Philippines proposed expanding ASEAN’s framework to cover the full lifecycle of space objects, from launch to reentry. PhilSA and UNOOSA also signed a memorandum to boost cooperation in space law, disaster response, and capacity-building, including the global release of a Philippine-developed space education book in six UN languages.
“As ASEAN Chair, we are proposing a regional declaration on space cooperation to strengthen collaboration in science, technology, and innovation,” said Gay Jane Perez, ad interim director general, PhilSA .