PLENARY 3: Fostering International Cooperation for Space Exploration – The Importance of The International Space Exploration Coordination Group

Wednesday 7, 09:30 – 10:30
Location: Beijing International Convention Center – Hall 2

15 Space Agencies (ASI, CNES, CNSA, CSA, CSIRO, DLR, ESA, ISRO, JAXA, KARI, NASA, NSAU, Roscosmos, UAESA, UKSA) are active participants in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), an inter-agency coordination forum to advance the implementation of individual and collective space exploration. The ISECG was formed in 2007 in response to the Global Exploration Strategy (GES). ISECG is best known for the development and maintenance of the Global Exploration Roadmap (GER). This roadmap describes a common view of participating agencies for advancing, in a step-wise manner, the implementation of the GES.The GER is used today as a reference document for international space exploration, providing common goals and objectives, information on plans for the near-term mission scenarios and the status of human exploration preparatory activities of ISECG participating agencies. The GER provides an important source of information for industry, academia and research institutions and has been taken note of at political level, including at the meetings of the International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF) which was last held in January 2014 upon the invitation of the US government.The plenary session will highlight past ISECG achievements and current activities and provide perspectives in fostering global cooperation for space exploration among participating ISECG space agencies. It will be structured in three parts:

Introduction to the work of ISECG, recalling the publication of the GES, the establishment and scope of ISECG and its impacts after 10 years of operations.
Introduction to the GER, including an outlook on its 3rd iteration to be published before end 2017.
Panel discussion on themes to be reflected in the next GER, including on visions, enablers and barriers for future multi-lateral cooperation, and the role of private sector.