Sustainability Of Outer Space Activities Research Articles

The green path to space sustainability: Twenty years of research

The outer space environment is in a critical circumstance. This can cause severe impact on humanity. The main issue is an increasing space debris population in Earth’s orbit. To ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, the relevant stakeholders need to collaborate with each other to solve challenging issues and find meaningful solutions. This article aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to provide information and insights to guide the alignment of all stakeholders towards space sustainability in the context of near-Earth outer space. The software VOSviewer is chosen to analyse the selected 205 journal articles from Scopus database during 2003–22. The results show the publication trends, the leading sources of publications and the country collaboration network. The discussion based on the selected articles can inform emerging theories that can underpin the development of the space sustainability concept. In conclusion, this analysis reveals the current scientific research and proposes meaningful theories for further research and recommendations.

PRIORITIZING HEALTH CONCERNS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EQUALLY IN ADDRESSING SPACE DEBRIS FROM OUTER SPACE THROUGH THE PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The controversy surrounding space debris which have re-entered the earth atmosphere has gained prominence for causing environmental contamination among various subsidiary guidelines which constitute the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. Regretfully, most of the subsidiary guidelines have barely referred to health concerns explicitly. While certain forms of space debris can either cause air, water or ground pollution such as fuel from fuel tanks of rockets and satellites or nuclear-powered reactors, how human health is affected has been downplayed. If sustainable development must be achieved, the inclusion of health concerns from space debris must be emphasized as more non-space-faring states are victims of fallen debris that could harm their population. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to assert that environmental contamination and health concerns arising from the space debris left on earth from the outcome of outer space activities must be given equal emphasis in the furtherance on international health law. This is a qualitative study that utilizes a textual analysis in interpreting provisions and relevant paragraphs of selected outer space agreements and soft law documents to identify wordings such as environmental contamination and pollution, health and public health to judge if these documents have adequately addressed the two components of sustainable development. Secondary resources were also consulted. The results of the study show that outer space law has made some strides by embracing sustainable development with an emphasis on environmental contamination and protection from space debris through non-binding soft law documents to complement outer space treaties but neglecting health concerns. The implication is the need to develop international health law by the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning outer space to address toxic fuels besides the hazards posed by nuclear reactors powering some satellites since scant attention has been given to these matters.

THE CONCEPT OF LONG – TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUTER SPACE ACTIVITIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF STATES FOR SPACE ACTIVITIES

The concept of long-term sustainability of outer space activities is based on rational assumptions regarding outer space as a limited resource, which will inevitably shrink in the long term if States do not take appropriate preventive measures. The arguments for this are all the stronger as it concerns a real threat to the safety of space operations, and what is more, to their continuation in the future. The legal status of outer space determines the responsibility of States for the activities of both governmental and non-governmental entities. The UN COPUOS Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities strongly remind of this. This is an important element of this document, which should be considered not only in the context of liability for damage caused as a result of space activities, but also in the context of liability for violating the principles adopted in the key treaty of international space law, which is the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies of 27 January 1967. The main purpose of this article is to present the assumptions of the concept and, in their light, to refer to its structural treaty connotations in the field of generally recognized international responsibility of the State for space activities. The study is also intended to show workable solutions adopted in national law that implement the COPUOS Guidelines, as a necessary and inevitable direction of national activity of countries wanting to explore and use outer space safely and responsibly.

COPUOS: Current and Future Challenges

The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) has an impressive record of being in the vanguard for over sixty years in leading the development of multilateral treaties, principles, guidelines and best practices to assist states and non-governmental organizations in ensuring the safety, security and sustainability of outer space activities for peaceful purposes. However, there are currently several stresses and challenges relating to the governance of the Committee suggesting that COPUOS is in jeopardy of losing this leadership in providing this essential guidance for the global space community. In this article we outline some of these stresses and propose that COPUOS or the UN General Assembly (UNGA), to which the Committee reports, conducts a review and analysis of the organization and method of work of the Committee to determine if adjustments might be adopted in order to deliver its mandate more effectively. COPUOS, Outer Space Treaty, United Nations General Assembly, UNOOSA

Implementing the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines: What’s Next?

In June 2019, following an eight-year process, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) adopted twenty-one voluntary, non-binding consensus Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. These guidelines are intended to support states in developing their space capabilities in a manner that enhances the safety of space operations and avoids causing harm to the outer space environment. The guidelines are relevant to both governmental and non-governmental entities. They address all space activities, whether planned or ongoing, and apply to all phases of a space mission, from prelaunch mission design through to operation and end-of-life disposal. The guidelines will only achieve their intended purposes if they are implemented as widely as possible. Successful guideline implementation will both rely on and strengthen international cooperation in space activities. Implementation of the guidelines will also be facilitated by improved coordination and information exchange among space actors from government, the private sector and civil society. This article discusses the roles and recent contributions of each of these types of actors in promoting guideline implementation and the sustainability of space activities in general. The article concludes with some observations on the second phase of the LTS discussions in UN COPUOS and the connection between space sustainability and sustainable development on Earth. LTS Guidelines, soft law, space sustainability, UN COPUOS

Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space: Role of Sustainable Development Goals and Its Legal Consequences

Celestial bodies had always been part of the process of volatile natural phenomena. The problem of collusion and encroaching path of each other, and interference of comets and dust has been as a forming part of space debris. Things have become riskier with the humans’ entry. This has generated a genuine apprehension of damage to the adverse environment of outer space. In this connection, the UNCOPUOS has been working on the agenda of sustainable space. In 2010, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UNCOPUOS created a Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities to develop a consolidated set of voluntary, non-binding guidelines for the States, international organisations, and private entities to ensure sustainable space. 
 In this connection, the present paper discusses various aspects of sustainable space including possible applicability of SDGs to outer space. The part one of the paper introduces the concept of sustainable development. It also highlights the global environmental protection regime and underneath politics. Part two of the paper canvases the role of space (technologies) in achieving the SDGs. Part three of the paper explores to answer the question “whether SDGs includes Space in it or not?” If not, how the idea of “sustainable space” can be achieved? There, the authors explain the need for sustainable space and discussion happening around. In part four, authors conclude by arguing for evolving regime for sustainable space and resist from committing the same mistake that we did to the earth environment.

Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and Space Traffic Management

Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and Space Traffic Management

Anti-weaponization of Outer Space for Maintaining Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities

Space weaponization should be prevented because of its detrimental effects on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities (LTSOSA). International law that currently governs weaponization in outer space should be implemented, and international rules that pertain to the LTSOSA should impose direct and indirect soft-law constraints on space weaponization. Nevertheless, the direct and indirect roles of international law in inhibiting space weaponization are limited, and a legal lacuna still exists in the governance of conventional weapons in the Earth's orbit. Independent and more focused discussions on specific issues related to space security are recommended given that the disagreement on related issues has prevented real progress from being made during multilateral discussions addressing the space technologies that could be used in a hostile manner. The integration of some norms of responsible space activity into the new LTSOSA Guidelines discussed under the auspices of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is also recommended, along with an ongoing strong political constraint on the deployment and testing of dedicated space weapons in outer space through the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions and international condemnation. The latter is a good alternative under the current circumstances to preserve the LTSOSA by working against the weaponization of outer space.

Space traffic management as a necessity for future orbital operations a French perspective

As the number of artificial satellites put into orbit around Earth is growing very rapidly for scientific, commercial, defence or educational purposes, the need to take measures to improve safety of space operations and to contribute to the long-term sustainability of outer space activities are becoming more and more important.This paper provides an analysis of the main identified challenges to be addressed by space traffic management (STM) and an overview of a set of actions considered to tackle those challenges. The complementarity of political guidelines, regulation, standardization and operational capabilities is discussed, taking into account the need to combine the expected efficiency of the proposed actions with European industry competitiveness and also national and European security constraints.

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

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.

A legal approach to the national emergency management of space weather: China as a case study

The attention of the international space community has been drawn to space weather over the last two decades, not only because of its uncertainty and its adverse effects on the safety of space operations and the long-term sustainability of outer space activities (LTSOSA), but also because of its negative societal and economic impacts on the ground. The national emergency management of space weather is indispensable for China because China has both a large number of assets in outer space and infrastructure on the ground that are vulnerable to space weather. While China gives weight to the monitoring of space weather events by deploying a series of space- and ground-based systems, its national-level management of space weather events is inadequate. China, compared to the USA, is still a long way from having scientific and effective emergency management of severe space weather in the areas of space weather science research, response, and rulemaking. Current international hard laws that address the space weather issue play a limited role because these rules are all general. The Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (the UNCOPUOS Guidelines for the LTSOSA), although they provide soft-law guidance addressing the harmful impacts of space weather on space activities from the perspectives of mitigation, preparedness, monitoring, and early warning, neither address the response to or recovery from extreme space weather events in outer space nor provide for space weather mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery regimes on the ground. Apart from the international law and the soft-law guidance, Chinese national laws only provide general guidelines for the emergency management of space weather. To enhance its national capacity to address space weather and minimize the harmful societal and economic impacts of space weather, a comprehensive legal regime for the emergency management of space weather should be in place in China; this should primarily revolve around mitigation, preparedness, monitoring, early warning, response, recovery, capacity-building, and international cooperation.

Legal and regulatory framework of long term sustainability of outer space activities (LTSOSA), space security and its contribution towards human security

Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTSOSA) was adopted during the UNCOPUOS Session in June 2019. It consists of 21 guidelines in four (4) categories, namely: policy and regulatory framework of outer space activities; safety of outer space operations; international cooperation, capacity building and awareness; and technical research and development. The LTSOSA is in line with the definition of Space Security which relates to guaranteed access to Space and the ability to freely exploit space for various purposes. Space Security cover both: safety, sustainability and the security of the space system and actors. While Human Security is an approach to assist the Member States in identifying and addressing widespread and cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of their people. It calls for people-centered, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people. This article will be focused on analyzing and elaborating three (3) main issues: The correlation among LTSOSA, Space Security and Human Security; The Contributions of LTSOSA and Space Security toward the achievement of Human Security’s Objectives; and Legal and Regulatory Framework of LTSOSA, Space Security and Human Security.

Risk Assessment of a Large Constellation of Satellites in Low-Earth Orbit

This paper aims to assess the risk of mission termination for a large constellation of satellites in a low-Earth orbit. Many large constellations will be deployed to provide broadband network services using thousands of satellites. There is concern that such large constellations will have a serious impact on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities due to the rapid increase in population. First, therefore, the authors conducted an assessment under nominal activities (referred to as “business-as-usual”) on the basis of a prediction by ESA’s MASTER-2009 and NASA standard breakup model 2001 revision. The assessment found that nearly one catastrophic collision may happen in a large constellation, generating more than two million fragments as small as 1 mm in size. Second, the authors conducted a further assessment assuming a hypothetical collision of a satellite in a large constellation using the NASA standard breakup model and a spherical finite element model adopted in ESA’s MASTER-2009. In consequence, another catastrophic collision may happen to a large constellation, generating approximately a half-million fragments as small as 1 mm in size. Therefore, such catastrophic collisions and resulting secondary collisions should be prevented for large constellations.

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities for Space Debris Removal

ABSTRACT Expanding the concept of sustainability from Earth to outer space is a recent, yet inevitable development, which originates in the comprehension that the Earth’s orbital space is a finite resource. The growing number of actors and operations in outer space have led to the proliferation of space debris, posing numerous risks to the long-term sustainability of space activities. Against this background, the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities adopted by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) in 2019 call for enhanced international cooperation, effectively addressing such challenges. UNCOPUOS Member States agreed on the fact that international cooperation is required, however, what has not been agreed upon is the nature of such cooperation. The following paper elaborates on the concept of responsibility for space debris removal, looking for analogies in climate change law, namely the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). Reviewing the literature on space debris regulations, this paper proposes a system based on the correlation between space activities of states and the responsibility for space debris removal. Acknowledging the principles of international space law and the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, key obstacles regarding space debris removal and recommendations strengthening international cooperation are discussed.

The UN COPUOS Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities

The United Nations has addressed the concept of sustainable development on Earth in a number of global summits and fora for the past 40 years. Extending the concept of sustainability to outer space is a much more recent development, arising from the realization that the Earth's orbital space environment constitutes a finite resource that is being used by an increasing number of space actors that include States, commercial actors and other non-governmental entities. The proliferation of space debris, the increasing complexity of space operations, the emergence of large constellations of satellites, and the increased risks of collisions and interference with the operation of satellites raise concerns about the safety of space operations and the long-term sustainability (LTS) of space activities. Addressing these developments and risks requires international cooperation. The leading international forum to discuss questions of international cooperation in space activities is the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). In 2010, the Committee began its consideration of this topic with a view to producing a set of internationally agreed guidelines that States could follow to ensure that their space activities would not cause harm to the space environment or the safety of space operations. Following a broad international process conducted under the aegis of COPUOS, in June 2019 the Committee adopted a set of 21 voluntary, non-binding UN COPUOS Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (‘COPUOS LTS Guidelines’). This paper provides a brief overview of the development of these guidelines, summarizes the salient features of the guidelines and discusses the implementation of these guidelines from the perspectives of government, industry and civil society. In adopting this set of LTS Guidelines, COPUOS acknowledged that more work needs to be done on this topic and it agreed to establish a follow-up LTS working group with a five-year mandate to continue the work. The main themes and challenges facing the next phase of the LTS discussions in COPUOS are also discussed.

Capacity building in regional space cooperation: Asia-pacific space cooperation organization

The increasing gap in the space capabilities of different countries has led to the need for capacity building in modern times. Space capacity building of countries without or with limited space capacity via international cooperation with advanced spacefaring nations is a good practice towards intragenerational equity among all spacefaring countries, and between spacefaring and non-spacefaring countries at the same period of time. A case study is used here to show the current situation of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and its member states that are associated with their space capacity building. The study finds that neither the satellite technology development model developed by Wood and Weigel (2011) nor the model developed by Ercan and Kale (2017) is a good fit for the development of space capability in all of the developing countries. Therefore, using the APSCO member states as a case study may offer guidelines towards the space capacity building of other developing countries. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of the merits and flaws of APSCO’s capacity building programs through comparing them with similar projects carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) and some other countries is conducive to providing some references for regional cooperation in the field of space capacity building. While international space law and the APSCO Convention can provide the general principles for capacity building activities under the framework of APSCO, they are only relevant to the development of scientific and technological capacities for space and human resources rather than organizational development and legal frameworks. Some international soft laws can likewise provide guidance for the capacity building activities of APSCO and its member states in the areas of international direct television broadcasting, remote sensing and cooperative way. To enhance its and its member states’ space capabilities, APSCO, in the context of space commercialization and maintaining the long-term sustainability of outer space activities (LTSOSA), should establish a comprehensive internal regime that addresses scientific and technological capacity building for space, human resources, organizational development and legal frameworks, a flexible regime for international cooperation with other developed spacefaring nations and international organizations with relevant technical capabilities and an internal research center for space law, and actively expand its membership by embracing other economically or technologically developed spacefaring nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Space Doctrine and Guidelines for Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities as Basis for Sustainable Earth Development

Space Doctrine and Guidelines for Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities as Basis for Sustainable Earth Development

Long-term sustainability of outer space activities and prevention of an arms race in outer space

The growing threats in the 21st century to militarize outer space and turn it into a theater of operations determine the development of various documents to prevent an arms race in outer space both within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and on the basis of different international forums. The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space discusses on an ongoing basis its agenda the issue of ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. This article contains a comprehensive analysis of key areas presented through the prism of the main 1967 Outer Space Treaty, designed to ensure "the peaceful use and exploration of outer space".

Long Term Sustainability (LTS) of Outer Space Activities vis a vis Space Awareness

Space Awareness is one of the priorities for all operations in outer space. Space is the place for commercial and military activities. This article is about awareness of space in civilian and military context. Awareness is the topic of one of the guidelines adopted by COPUOS in June this year. For NATO Space Awareness domain (and also SSA) has been always crucial (keeping in mind that NATO does not own any satellite and depend on member states in this area), that is the reason why NATO put so much attention to space in its activities. Policy on Space support in operations made integration of Space into NATO’s core tasks as the priority. Civil and military cooperation seems to be unquestionable. Better leverage science and technology entities, foster communication with industry and relevant partners are the challenges for space awareness policy today. It must be agreed that States and international intergovernmental organizations (civil or military) as it was presented in the newly adopted by UN-LTS, should raise general public awareness of the important societal benefits of space activities and of the consequent importance of enhancing the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

The Urgency of Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities for Indonesia

The rapid increase in the use and exploration of outer space raises concerns about its sustainability in a sustainable manner. Countries seek multilateral solutions through the guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities (LTSOSA) which was adopted in June 2019 in the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) forum. Indonesia as a country that organizes the use and exploration of outer space has an interest in ensuring the security of the implementation of outer space in a sustainable manner. Thus, it is necessary for the mapping of Indonesia’s interest in implementing the LTSOSA guidelines. The interest mapping will illustrate the urgency of the LTSOSA guidelines for Indonesia's national security particularly outer space security. The analysis shows that the LTSOSA guidelines contain items related to outer space security which are of vital national importance to Indonesia. This article is expected to become input for Indonesia's attitude and position towards the implementation of the LTSOSA guidelines.Keywords: Indonesia, long term sustainability of outer space activities, outer space security Penggunaan dan eksplorasi antariksa yang semakin pesat menimbulkan kekhawatiran terhadap kelestariannya secara berkelanjutan. Negara-negara mencari solusi secara multilateral melalui pedoman kegiatan antariksa berkelanjutan jangka panjang atau dikenal guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer outer space activities (LTSOSA) yang disahkan pada Juni 2019 dalam forum United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Outer space (UNCOPUOS). Indonesia sebagai negara yang menyelenggarakan penggunaan dan eksplorasi antariksa berkepentingan untuk menjamin keamanan penyelenggaraan keantariksaannya secara berkelanjutan. Dengan demikian, perlu adanya pemetaan kepentingan Indonesia dalam mengimplementasikan guidelines LTSOSA. Pemetaan kepentingan akan menggambarkan mengenai urgensi guidelines LTSOSA bagi keamanan nasional Indonesia khususnya bidang keantariksaan. Tulisan ini menemukan bahwa guidelines LTSOSA memuat butir-butir terkait keamanan keantariksaan yang menjadi kepentingan nasional vital bagi Indonesia. Artikel ini diharapkan menjadi bahan masukan sikap dan posisi Indonesia terhadap implementasi guidelines LTSOSA. Kata-kata kunci: Indonesia, keamanan keantariksaan, keberlanjutan kegiatan luar angkasa dalam jangka panjang