Mariel Borowitz: Shaping Space Policy and Lunar Governance for a Sustainable Future

Dr. Mariel Borowitz

As humanity’s presence in space grows more complex—with Earth observation satellites, mega-constellations in low Earth orbit, and burgeoning cislunar ambitions—governance and sustainability hang in the balance. The challenge of sharing critical space data while safeguarding security has never been more pressing, and effective policies will require blending academic insight, commercial innovation, and governmental leadership.

EcoAero had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Mariel Borowitz, Associate Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and Director of the Center for Space Policy and International Relations at Georgia Tech, about her work at the nexus of international cooperation, lunar governance, and space sustainability.

Dr. Borowitz’s research spans three core areas. First, she investigates data-sharing policies for civil Earth observation and remote sensing satellites—examining how open-data frameworks boost research, commercial applications, and public engagement. Second, she delves into cislunar policy, probing U.S. strategic interests around the Moon and developing governance regimes to establish norms of responsible lunar behavior. Third, she tackles space situational awareness (SSA) and security—exploring how to track objects in orbit, coordinate collision avoidance, and address both accidental and intentional threats to long-term space stability.

Open data-sharing for Earth Observation (EO) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Dr. Borowitz highlights how removing barriers to data access transforms the entire ecosystem: by making civil EO datasets freely available, governments amplify research output, empower companies to leverage insights for product and business-intelligence applications, and enable nonprofits and public stakeholders to tackle environmental and safety challenges with the same foundational information. She states that:

“...when you make the data openly available, you really maximize the use of that data by all sorts of different users...you get just more research because researchers can access that data quickly and easily...you see industry use of the remote sensing data...you see it with nonprofits...and I think when it goes to space situational awareness data, you are likely to see a lot of the same things...it gets incorporated into research projects. You accelerate the pace at which you can push the boundaries of our scientific capabilities.”

Applying this model to space situational awareness could similarly spark startup innovation, speed academic breakthroughs, and broaden transparency—while carefully calibrated restrictions on the most sensitive measurements safeguard national security. Shared SSA data not only enhances collision-warning services and traffic-management norms but also helps governments identify actors who may deviate from responsible behaviors, strengthening both safety and strategic stability in orbit.

Dr. Borowitz also underscores the value of a hybrid government–commercial approach. Governments can leverage military and civil SSA systems to provide baseline safety services, while incentivizing startups and established companies through clear licensing and partnerships. Yet, as commercial actors develop advanced sensors and analytics, public–private collaboration becomes essential to scale innovations—whether fusing multisensor data, improving orbital prediction algorithms, or harmonizing disparate SSA catalogs from the U.S., EU, Japan, India, and beyond.

Cislunar policies and future outlooks

Dr. Borowitz views the cislunar arena as a critical next frontier where U.S. strategic interests—scientific, commercial, and security—intersect, and she argues that sustained government investment and robust governance frameworks are vital to catalyze a viable lunar economy and steer responsible behavior. By anchoring the Artemis program through close international partnerships (with Europe, Japan, and the UAE) and underwriting initial infrastructure, the U.S. not only leverages scientific and military benefits but also cements its leadership in what many perceive as a lunar “race” with China. These investments lay the groundwork for norms and rules of engagement in cis-lunar space, ensuring both long-term sustainability and the growth of private-sector ventures once market conditions mature.

Looking ahead, the rush to populate low Earth orbit with mega-constellations (from Starlink to Kuiper and India’s Satcom networks) and the push toward cislunar commerce pose distinct sustainability challenges. Dr. Borowitz warns that coordinating space traffic will demand robust international agreements and real-time data sharing—even among actors without deep security ties—while government anchor investments will likely remain crucial to kick-start a viable lunar economy.

As EcoAero continues its mission to spotlight aerospace innovations that protect our planet and its orbital environment, we are inspired by Dr. Borowitz’s vision: forging policies that balance openness with security, championing public–private partnerships, and nurturing global norms for responsible space activity. EcoAero will build on these insights by amplifying research on data-sharing frameworks, convening dialogues on cislunar governance, and promoting best practices for space sustainability in collaboration with academia, industry, and policymakers.