Governance and Legal Issues in Space Debris Management

 SpaceX Rocket Explosion Sends Debris Across Florida and the Bahamas

This incident underscores the escalating risks linked to the expansion of satellite mega-constellations like Starlink and Kuiper.

Space debris refers to non-functional, artificial objects, including fragments, found in Earth's orbit or re-entering the atmosphere.

Governance and Legal Issues in Space Debris Management

• Lack of Definition: There is no universally agreed-upon legal definition of space debris in international treaties.

• Liability: Disputes arise over whether debris is considered a "space object" under the 1972 Liability Convention. The liability becomes unclear once the debris is no longer under the control of a state.

• Enforcement: Many older satellites lack deorbiting mechanisms and are not in compliance with the UN's voluntary deorbiting guidelines.

• Attribution: Identifying the source of debris is difficult, particularly with older or fragmented objects.

Key Sources of Space Debris:

• A significant portion of debris originates from on-orbit breakups and collisions.
• Other sources include spent rocket stages and the use of space-based weapons like anti-satellite missiles.

Challenges of Rising Space Debris:

• The increasing amount of debris poses a risk to operational satellites and the safety of astronauts.
• It results in higher costs for maintaining satellites and managing space operations.

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