Handling “Space Debris” under the International Space Treaties Regime: Case Studies Analysis

Abstract

A fundamental risk for any space mission is a collision with "space debris" – nonfunctioning artificial objects that keep in orbit around Earth. Besides collisions that may prove fatal to individual space missions, scientists fear a space debris chain reaction that, if triggered, might preclude most space activities for decades. The current international legal regime that governs space was designed mostly during the Cold War. Using four notable incidents where space activities generated pollution as case studies, this article highlights the current regime’s major problems, most notably that it creates market failures. The article then suggests guidelines for designing a new legal framework that tackles it.