Spaceflight ๐There are no binding #international rules governing the management and prevention of the growth of debris in space ๐. Space-faring countries have established #guidelines, but they are not sufficient to guarantee a #sustainable space environment. https://www.internationalinsurance.org/insights_cyber_the_space_debris_dilemma
The management of common pool resources depends crucially on the existence and effectiveness of the #rules and institutions to govern their use.
For #space activities, this translates into human activities potentially littering Earthโs orbits beyond sustainable limits, creating #SpaceDebris that could reduce the value of space activities by increasing the risk of damaging collisions ๐ฅ and requiring mitigation actions. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2020/04/space-sustainability_a2d8e17f/a339de43-en.pdf
Uncontrolled reentries of space objects create a collision ๐ฅ risk with aircraft โ๏ธ in flight. The highest-density regions have a 0.8% chance per year of being affected. This rate rises to 26% ๐ for larger areas of #airspace, such as that found in the #US ๐บ๐ธ , #Europe ๐ช๐บ, or around major cities in the #AsiaPacific ๐ธ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฐ ๐น๐ญ๐จ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐บ region. The collision risk could be mitigated if controlled reentries into the ocean were required for all missions. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-84001-2
Airspace closures due to reentering space objects - Scientific Reports
Uncontrolled reentries of space objects create a collision risk with aircraft in flight. While the probability of a strike is low, the consequences could be catastrophic. Moreover, the risk is rising due to increases in both reentries and flights. In response, national authorities may choose to preemptively close airspace during reentry events; some have already done so. We determine the probability for a rocket body reentry within airspace over a range of air traffic densities. The highest-density regions, around major airports, have a 0.8% chance per year of being affected by an uncontrolled reentry. This rate rises to 26% for larger but still busy areas of airspace, such as that found in the northeastern United States, northern Europe, or around major cities in the Asia-Pacific region. For a given reentry, the collision risk in the underlying airspace increases with the air traffic density. However, the economic consequences of flight delays also increase should that airspace be closed. This situation puts national authorities in a dilemmaโto close airspace or notโwith safety and economic implications either way. The collision risk could be mitigated if controlled reentries into the ocean were required for all missions. However, over 2300 rocket bodies are already in orbit and will eventually reenter in an uncontrolled manner. Airspace authorities will face the challenge of uncontrolled reentries for decades to come.
Around 100 nations are involved in varying levels of #space activity. Since the 1950s, almost 20,000 #satellites ๐ฐ๏ธ have been launched into Earthโs orbit. These satellites bring immense benefits to #society, from monitoring ecosystems and supporting global #communications, to facilitating services such as satellite #television and contactless bank card payments. However,...https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/a-sustainable-development-goal-for-space
#BlueOrigin appears to be publicly signaling the #FAA and other regulatory agencies that it believes #NewGlenn is ready to fly, pending approval ๐ to conduct a hot fire test at Launch Complex-36, and then for a liftoff from Florida https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/12/intrigue-swirls-as-blue-origin-races-toward-year-end-deadline-for-new-glenn
Collision-avoidance maneuvers are not uncommon around the #moon ๐. The #Korea ๐ฐ๐ท Aerospace Research Institute (#KARI) received 40 "red alarms" of potential collisions ๐ฅ. There is currently no international protocol to resolve collision risks. "Sometimes, we did not have the contact information of the responsible personnel, and network security issues occasionally prevented email exchanges" https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/indias-chandrayaan-2-moon-orbiter-avoids-collision-with-south-koreas-danuri-spacecraft
The world needs a new convention governing space conduct. Treaties forged in the 1960s and 1970s prohibit ๐ซ countries from touching anotherโs material. An exception for cleaning up trash is in order, along with general rules about orbital cleanliness and garbage disposal ๐๏ธ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2024/space-trash-debris-spacex
#Newsom indicated he broadly agreed with the lawsuit and that the independent agency should have confined its debate to the merits of the permit rather than engage in a discussion of #Muskโs political activities. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/18/elon-newsom-musk-california-spacex-00184408
#SpaceX has sued a #California commission in federal court, accusing panel members of #political bias in blocking the space venture company from increasing ๐ the number of rockets it launches from a U.S. air base in the state. The commission on Wednesday declined to comment. https://www.reuters.com/legal/musks-spacex-sues-california-panel-alleges-political-bias-over-rocket-launches-2024-10-16/
๐ฆ๐บ The news will put pressure on the #Australian #SpaceAgency to grant it the crucial permit it had been hoping to receive six months ago โ.
Founder Adam Gilmour has been hugely critical of the Space Agencyโs handling of the situation, arguing the pushback was โmore them than usโ and even suggesting that officials were concerned that its #Eris launch vehicle could hit a passing ship ๐ข https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/launch/6340-gilmour-ready-for-launch-despite-permit-delay
