Climate change policy as a guide for orbital debris policy
4 April, 2023
Orbital pollution, also known as space debris, is one of the most important global challenges in space. Although some progress has been made within the existing voluntary policy framework, more comprehensive regulations are still needed to effectively address this issue and prevent further accumulation of debris in orbit. In this commentary, Professor Nodir Adilov, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Dr. Peter Alexander, Federal Communications Commission, and Professor Brendan Cunningham, Eastern Connecticut State University, discuss a policy proposal for dealing with orbital debris that can build on climate change policy.
Understanding Growth in the Global Space Situational Awareness Sector
3 September, 2022
Global trends in partnerships and data exchanges will affect global SSA capabilities overall, and ultimately, the sustainability of the space environment for all users. Dr Mariel Borowitz presents a model for better understanding of the global SSA sector.
Space Traffic Management: A Brief History
29 June, 2022
Dr Quentin Verspieren explores how the idea of regulating space traffic has been present and formalised since the early beginnings of space law, starting in the 1930s, and becoming a widely debated topic in the following years. Increasing concerns about space traffic should be explained by the actual growth of space traffic as well as the emergence of the very closely related issue of space debris mitigation.
Australia's Space Journey: Never lost, now charting a new course
30 May, 2022
In this commentary on Australia's space programme, Dr Brett Biddington argues that happenstance and incrementalism are the defining factors of its journey, and that external pressures, more than internal vision and understanding, have forced a succession of Australian Governments to pay increasing public attention to space matters.
Cyberattacks on Satellites: An Underestimated Political Threat
5 May, 2022
While ransomware is mainly distributed via terrestrial networks, the threat of cyberattacks on satellite systems has become increasingly real. In this piece, Professor Walter Peeters of the International Space University explores the hypothetical aftermath of a complete shutdown of the global satellite network system, and argues for the possibility of such a shutdown to be taken more seriously as a political threat.
The Growth of Non-governmental Space Sector in China [coming soon]