Description
The space environment, in particular the low Earth Orbit space environment, is fragile. As the variety of actors and uses cases expands, Earth orbit will only become more crowded by operational space objects and space debris. This has led to significant interest in the notion of space sustainability. The concept of sustainability comes from environmental governance and is the idea that environmental resources should be managed in such a way that they meet the needs of present users without compromising the needs of future users. In space, this idea is being applied to orbital management in the context of increasing congestion.
Sustainability is primarily a governance problem in that there is a need to strike the balance between current and future uses. While new technologies often improve sustainability, governance sets the key thresholds that enable long term use of the environment. This presentation will engage with this governance structure by examining the current frameworks that impact space sustainability. Governance in this area is a mix of policy, nonbinding standards and guidelines, and law. This presentation will explain how these various mechanisms come together to structure a framework around space sustainability, but it will also critique this framework as incomplete. This incompleteness is a core challenge to the long term sustainability of space in light of the rise of very large constellations. This presentation will conclude with reflections on the future development of space sustainability in the context of both the increasing commercial usage and increasing military contestation.
