TY - JOUR

T1 - Assuring a safe, secure and sustainable space environment for space activities

T2 - Considerations on a consensual orbital debris remediation scheme

AU - Smith, Lesley Jane

N1 - ISBN 978-163439986-9. 65th International Astronautical Congress 2014: Our World Needs Space, IAC 2014; Toronto; Canada; 29 September 2014 through 3 October 2014

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This paper looks at the interaction between the classic rules of Outer Space Law as they apply to space debris. It transcends the traditional legal debate which focuses primarily on impact-related damage, particularly on Earth. Now, with longer term concerns for safe, secure and sustainable space environment at stake, there appears to be a strong case for aligning the debris codes, rules about preventive and precautionary measures for outer space activities, with the traditional liability system. The ultimate goal is to impact positively on debris control in Outer Space, enable its reduction, and agree on a modus vivendi that ranges from debris mitigation to include debris remediation. The paper considers how the current space law regime could enable practical and recognisable means of ensuring compliance with the debris rules, and its mitigation, possibly through incentive based systems. With the advent of space surveillance tracking systems, the Space Security Index and various other thematic programmes, a new matrix combining existing rules to shape sustainability is top of the regulatory agenda. The precarious state of the outer space environment is known to all, yet final agreement on the action required is still under discussion. This paper highlights some essential aspects of what could be done to initiate these remedial projects. In doing so, it draws attention to salient aspects of law and policy.

AB - This paper looks at the interaction between the classic rules of Outer Space Law as they apply to space debris. It transcends the traditional legal debate which focuses primarily on impact-related damage, particularly on Earth. Now, with longer term concerns for safe, secure and sustainable space environment at stake, there appears to be a strong case for aligning the debris codes, rules about preventive and precautionary measures for outer space activities, with the traditional liability system. The ultimate goal is to impact positively on debris control in Outer Space, enable its reduction, and agree on a modus vivendi that ranges from debris mitigation to include debris remediation. The paper considers how the current space law regime could enable practical and recognisable means of ensuring compliance with the debris rules, and its mitigation, possibly through incentive based systems. With the advent of space surveillance tracking systems, the Space Security Index and various other thematic programmes, a new matrix combining existing rules to shape sustainability is top of the regulatory agenda. The precarious state of the outer space environment is known to all, yet final agreement on the action required is still under discussion. This paper highlights some essential aspects of what could be done to initiate these remedial projects. In doing so, it draws attention to salient aspects of law and policy.

KW - Commercial law

KW - Orbits

KW - Space flight

KW - Space surveillance

KW - Sustainable development

KW - Debris mitigation

KW - Orbital debris

KW - Outer space

KW - Precautionary measures

KW - Space activities

KW - Space environment

KW - Space security

KW - Tracking system

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938152217&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference article in journal

AN - SCOPUS:84938152217

VL - 13

SP - 9389

EP - 9401

JO - Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC

JF - Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC

ER -