Draft act on the establishment of a space situational awareness centre circulated for comments

The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on the draft government proposal for an act amending the Act on the Finnish Meteorological Institute and for an Act amending the Act on the Defence Forces. The amendments would enable the establishment of a space situational awareness centre in Finland. The deadline for submitting comments is 30 June 2024.

At the moment, no authority in Finland has the responsibility for surveying and tracking disturbances and dangerous situations in space and space activities in a coordinated manner. The Finnish centre for space situational awareness would provide and disseminate this information to the Defence Forces, to other authorities and to companies critical to security of supply as well as to universities and research institutes.

The centre would provide a recognised space picture in cooperation with Finland’s international partner countries and in close cooperation with organisations responsible for space surveillance.

Centre would be established as part of the existing functions

According to the draft proposal, the centre would operate on a decentralised basis. The civilian leadership would operate in connection with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the military leadership in connection with the Defence Forces. The near space observation systems managed by the National Land Survey of Finland would be utilised in providing space situational data for the centre.

The draft act proposes that the Finnish Meteorological Institute be assigned the task of providing services regarding space situational awareness picture. The Defence Forces would be tasked with acquiring, providing and sharing information on the space situational awareness picture. At the same time, provisions would be laid down on the exchange of confidential information between the authorities participating in the activities of the centre. 

In the Government Decree on the National Land Survey of Finland, the Land Survey would be tasked with observing Finland’s national space situational awareness picture.

Funding needed for the establishment of the space situational awareness centre

The establishment of the space situational awareness centre calls for funding. If the Government proposes funding for the centre in its budget session in autumn 2024 and Parliament approves the proposal and the legislative amendments, the amendments will enter into force and the establishment work will start at the beginning of 2025.

In 2022, the Ministry of Transport and Communications appointed a steering group to examine how the space situational awareness activities should be developed. On 3 May 2023, the Ministry of Transport and Communications published a unanimous final report of the steering group recommending the establishment of a national centre for space situational awareness activities. The steering group members included representatives from several ministries.

Next steps

The deadline for comments on the draft act is 30 June 2024. All organisations and private individuals may submit comments online at www.lausuntopalvelu.fi. Following the consultation round, the law-drafting work will continue at the Ministry.

Inquiries:

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Suvi Lahtikankare, Senior Specialist, Legal Affairs, tel. +358 295 342 105, [email protected] 

Ministry of Defence:
Kosti Honkanen, Senior Specialist, Legal Affairs, tel. +358 295 140 607, [email protected]

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
Ada Ketelimäki, Senior Specialist, Legal Affairs, tel. +358 295 162 003, [email protected]