The development and implementation of international UN guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities

Abstract

In recent years the world has witnessed a rapid increase in the number space actors and new satellites being launched into space. Coupled with the steady increase of orbital debris from the space activities of previous decades, this has given rise to concerns about the long-term sustainability of space activities. This paper describes the international process to develop the UN Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (usually referred to in abbreviated form as “the LTS Guidelines”). We present the general content of the guidelines and the first steps by the international community to implement these guidelines. To frame this discussion in the context of the present Special Issue focusing on space environment management and space sustainability, we present some suggestions on how COSPAR could support the implementation of the LTS Guidelines and further multilateral work on space sustainability.