The Degree of the Lack of Regulation of Space Debris Within the Current Space Law Regime and Suggestions for a Prospective Legal Framework and Technological Interventions

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyse the current international legal regime (referred to as “First-Generation Space Law”) with regard to the issue of space debris management, specifically mitigation and eradication. Against this analysis a technological framework is introduced in order to monitor current and prospective space debris removal technologies that enables the design of a framework law regime to address the growing problem of space debris. Both the analysis of the current international legal regime and the design of the framework law regime provide insight into the uncertain nature of the current international law on space debris management that is not conducive to a solution to the space debris problem. The argument is thus advanced that the time has come for the Second-Generation Space Law to be developed in this regard.