This incident highlights the growing risks associated with the expansion of satellite mega-constellations like Starlink and Kuiper.
- Space debris refers to non-functional, artificial objects, including fragments, in Earth's orbit or re-entering the atmosphere.
Governance and Legal Issues with Space Debris Management
- Lack of Definition: There is no universally accepted legal definition of space debris in international treaties.
- Liability: Disputes over whether debris qualifies as a "space object" under the 1972 Liability Convention. Liability becomes unclear when debris is no longer under a state's jurisdiction.
- Enforcement: Many older satellites lack deorbiting mechanisms, and compliance with the UN's voluntary deorbiting guidelines.
- Attribution: Identifying the source of debris is challenging, especially with older or fragmented objects.
Key Sources: Majority of debris objects originate from on-orbit break-ups as well as on-orbit collisions.
- Space debris also originates from spent rocket stages, and use of space-based weapons (such as Anti-satellite missiles).
Challenges associated with rising space debris
Risk to operational satellites and to the life of astronauts, leads to high cost for maintaining satellites, etc.
Initiatives TakenGlobal
India
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