AwaitingLaunch_1397728623369

Towards A More Responsible Use of
Outer Space
Gérard Brachet
Use of Outer Space and Long-term Sustainability
Use of outer space has, so far, more or less ignored the need to address its
long-term sustainability. The safety and sustainability of space activities in
earth orbit over the long term is increasingly a matter of concern for all
space actors, nation/states, regional space organisations and commercial
satellite operators. The increasing number of actors in outer space, both
government and private, the difficult task of managing the finite radioelectric
spectrum available and the geostationary orbit slots, the effect of
space weather on space operations, and the proliferation of space debris, not
forgetting the risks associated with the potential use of weapons in outer
space are all factors which call into question our ability to continue operating
safely and without interference in the Earth orbit.
Some numbers are useful here to characterise the situation:
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11nations have acquired a space launch capability, conducting about
70 to 80 launches per year (80 in 2011, 75 in 2012, 78 in 2013).
4994 space launches have taken place from 1957 till the end of 2013.
About 17000 objects are tracked and cataloged by the U.S. Space
Surveillance Network, of which 22% are spacecraft, 12% upper stage
rocket bodies, 10% mission-related objects, 56% fragments (up from
41% before the China ASAT test of January 11, 2007).
About 60 States and regional governmental organizations operate
satellites in Earth orbit and an increasing number of private
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