Scientists Push For Treaty To Safeguard Earth's Orbit From Harm Caused By Space Industry's Growth

Scientists from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and University of Plymouth, among others, have called for a legally-binding treaty to ensure protection of the Earth’s orbit from the negative impacts of space industry’s rapid growth.

What Happened: In a recent article published in the journal “Science,” experts have expressed concern about the potential growth of the space industry, saying that it could make parts of the Earth’s orbit unusable.

As a result, they have called for urgent global consensus on how to effectively govern the use of Earth’s orbit.

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They added that while some companies are beginning to prioritize satellite sustainability, it should be mandated to include any nation that intends to utilize the Earth’s orbit. As per the study, there are about 9,000 satellites in orbit now, which is expected to surge to over 60,000 by 2030.

The scientists said that any agreement should establish accountability for both satellite producers and users, including responsibility for the debris generated during launches. Commercial costs should also be considered when looking at ways to incentivize accountability.

The article was co-authored by researchers from the University of Plymouth, Arribada Initiative, The University of Texas at Austin, California Institute of Technology, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spaceport Cornwall and Zoological Society of London.

Why It Matters: "Mirroring the new UN ocean initiative, minimizing the pollution of the lower Earth orbit will allow continued space exploration, satellite continuity and the growth of life-changing space technology," NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Scientist Dr Kimberley Miner said in a statement.

Estimates suggest that there are already more than 100 trillion untracked pieces of old satellites circling the planet, the study notes.

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