Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order

Scott Michael Steele

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order

Scott Michael Steele

Published in American Journal of Aerospace Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Received: 24 March 2022 Accepted: 14 April 2022 Published: 22 April 2022

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Abstract

With over 500,000 objects in orbit, space pollution has now become a scientific, legal, and ethical issue and raises concerns on what the international community can do through existing ‘hard law’ and the development of ‘soft law’ to help tackle the problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the application of the evolutionary principle of treaty interpretation to the Outer Space Treaty, enables for active removal of space debris in a manner consistent with space governance and which is acceptable to private corporations and States. Active Debris Removal (ADR) has only been used in specific circumstances which successfully removed an object. International law has hindered the process of mass removal of space debris, as objects cannot be removed without the consent of the relevant state. Therefore, this paper will consider whether customary international law and current state practice in analogous areas of international law, would allow or could develop to enable, the removal of an object from space without the need for consent of the launching state. Such an application will form a rigorous approach and introduction of space governance through an international multinational space agency approach for mutual agreement and cooperation without the need for an international treaty or political declaration. Such a principle, although not a new concept in areas such as international environmental law, would be new for international space law. However, as new and innovative activities are planned under the umbrella of the Outer Space Treaty, and by extension, general international law, it is wise to take a new and innovative approach to space law. Moreover, this paper aims at using maritime, environmental and international rules of responsibility to argue that the removal of objects in outer space does not need consent. This will be backed by an evolutionary approach to the interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. This paper will make a unique and forward-looking legal and governance argument that will test not only the use of international law but also science, technology and political will.

Published in	American Journal of Aerospace Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
Page(s)	45-60
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Space Debris, International Law, International Space Law, International Environmental Law

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Scott Michael Steele. (2022). Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order. American Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 8(2), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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Scott Michael Steele. Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order. Am. J. Aerosp. Eng. 2022, 8(2), 45-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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Scott Michael Steele. Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order. Am J Aerosp Eng. 2022;8(2):45-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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  author = {Scott Michael Steele},
  title = {Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order},
  journal = {American Journal of Aerospace Engineering},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {45-60},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajae.20210802.11},
  abstract = {With over 500,000 objects in orbit, space pollution has now become a scientific, legal, and ethical issue and raises concerns on what the international community can do through existing ‘hard law’ and the development of ‘soft law’ to help tackle the problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the application of the evolutionary principle of treaty interpretation to the Outer Space Treaty, enables for active removal of space debris in a manner consistent with space governance and which is acceptable to private corporations and States. Active Debris Removal (ADR) has only been used in specific circumstances which successfully removed an object. International law has hindered the process of mass removal of space debris, as objects cannot be removed without the consent of the relevant state. Therefore, this paper will consider whether customary international law and current state practice in analogous areas of international law, would allow or could develop to enable, the removal of an object from space without the need for consent of the launching state. Such an application will form a rigorous approach and introduction of space governance through an international multinational space agency approach for mutual agreement and cooperation without the need for an international treaty or political declaration. Such a principle, although not a new concept in areas such as international environmental law, would be new for international space law. However, as new and innovative activities are planned under the umbrella of the Outer Space Treaty, and by extension, general international law, it is wise to take a new and innovative approach to space law. Moreover, this paper aims at using maritime, environmental and international rules of responsibility to argue that the removal of objects in outer space does not need consent. This will be backed by an evolutionary approach to the interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. This paper will make a unique and forward-looking legal and governance argument that will test not only the use of international law but also science, technology and political will.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order
AU  - Scott Michael Steele
Y1  - 2022/04/22
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
T2  - American Journal of Aerospace Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Aerospace Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Aerospace Engineering
SP  - 45
EP  - 60
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2376-4821
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
AB  - With over 500,000 objects in orbit, space pollution has now become a scientific, legal, and ethical issue and raises concerns on what the international community can do through existing ‘hard law’ and the development of ‘soft law’ to help tackle the problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the application of the evolutionary principle of treaty interpretation to the Outer Space Treaty, enables for active removal of space debris in a manner consistent with space governance and which is acceptable to private corporations and States. Active Debris Removal (ADR) has only been used in specific circumstances which successfully removed an object. International law has hindered the process of mass removal of space debris, as objects cannot be removed without the consent of the relevant state. Therefore, this paper will consider whether customary international law and current state practice in analogous areas of international law, would allow or could develop to enable, the removal of an object from space without the need for consent of the launching state. Such an application will form a rigorous approach and introduction of space governance through an international multinational space agency approach for mutual agreement and cooperation without the need for an international treaty or political declaration. Such a principle, although not a new concept in areas such as international environmental law, would be new for international space law. However, as new and innovative activities are planned under the umbrella of the Outer Space Treaty, and by extension, general international law, it is wise to take a new and innovative approach to space law. Moreover, this paper aims at using maritime, environmental and international rules of responsibility to argue that the removal of objects in outer space does not need consent. This will be backed by an evolutionary approach to the interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. This paper will make a unique and forward-looking legal and governance argument that will test not only the use of international law but also science, technology and political will.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Scott Michael Steele

The Faculty of Business and Law and AstrobiologyOU, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

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Scott Michael Steele. (2022). Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order. American Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 8(2), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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ACS Style

Scott Michael Steele. Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order. Am. J. Aerosp. Eng. 2022, 8(2), 45-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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AMA Style

Scott Michael Steele. Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order. Am J Aerosp Eng. 2022;8(2):45-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11,
  author = {Scott Michael Steele},
  title = {Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order},
  journal = {American Journal of Aerospace Engineering},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {45-60},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajae.20210802.11},
  abstract = {With over 500,000 objects in orbit, space pollution has now become a scientific, legal, and ethical issue and raises concerns on what the international community can do through existing ‘hard law’ and the development of ‘soft law’ to help tackle the problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the application of the evolutionary principle of treaty interpretation to the Outer Space Treaty, enables for active removal of space debris in a manner consistent with space governance and which is acceptable to private corporations and States. Active Debris Removal (ADR) has only been used in specific circumstances which successfully removed an object. International law has hindered the process of mass removal of space debris, as objects cannot be removed without the consent of the relevant state. Therefore, this paper will consider whether customary international law and current state practice in analogous areas of international law, would allow or could develop to enable, the removal of an object from space without the need for consent of the launching state. Such an application will form a rigorous approach and introduction of space governance through an international multinational space agency approach for mutual agreement and cooperation without the need for an international treaty or political declaration. Such a principle, although not a new concept in areas such as international environmental law, would be new for international space law. However, as new and innovative activities are planned under the umbrella of the Outer Space Treaty, and by extension, general international law, it is wise to take a new and innovative approach to space law. Moreover, this paper aims at using maritime, environmental and international rules of responsibility to argue that the removal of objects in outer space does not need consent. This will be backed by an evolutionary approach to the interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. This paper will make a unique and forward-looking legal and governance argument that will test not only the use of international law but also science, technology and political will.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Space Debris: A Basis for Actively Removing Objects Under an International Legal Order
AU  - Scott Michael Steele
Y1  - 2022/04/22
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
T2  - American Journal of Aerospace Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Aerospace Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Aerospace Engineering
SP  - 45
EP  - 60
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2376-4821
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajae.20210802.11
AB  - With over 500,000 objects in orbit, space pollution has now become a scientific, legal, and ethical issue and raises concerns on what the international community can do through existing ‘hard law’ and the development of ‘soft law’ to help tackle the problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the application of the evolutionary principle of treaty interpretation to the Outer Space Treaty, enables for active removal of space debris in a manner consistent with space governance and which is acceptable to private corporations and States. Active Debris Removal (ADR) has only been used in specific circumstances which successfully removed an object. International law has hindered the process of mass removal of space debris, as objects cannot be removed without the consent of the relevant state. Therefore, this paper will consider whether customary international law and current state practice in analogous areas of international law, would allow or could develop to enable, the removal of an object from space without the need for consent of the launching state. Such an application will form a rigorous approach and introduction of space governance through an international multinational space agency approach for mutual agreement and cooperation without the need for an international treaty or political declaration. Such a principle, although not a new concept in areas such as international environmental law, would be new for international space law. However, as new and innovative activities are planned under the umbrella of the Outer Space Treaty, and by extension, general international law, it is wise to take a new and innovative approach to space law. Moreover, this paper aims at using maritime, environmental and international rules of responsibility to argue that the removal of objects in outer space does not need consent. This will be backed by an evolutionary approach to the interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. This paper will make a unique and forward-looking legal and governance argument that will test not only the use of international law but also science, technology and political will.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download