Space Debris and International Environmental Law: Emerging Legal Challenges

The rapid expansion of space activities has generated substantial socioeconomic benefits through satellite communication; unlimited use of outer space has caused pollution in outer space and, consequently, in the earth's environment. Space debris has become a threat to the security of space activities. Space debris is the most important of these pollutions that not only creates numerous threats and risks for orbiting satellites but also creates environmental, economic and security risks for current and future space activities.   Although international space law establishes principles concerning responsibility, liability, registration and the peaceful use of outer space, it does not provide a comprehensive and legally binding environmental regime specifically designed to prevent and remediate orbital pollution. This review examines the relationship between international space law and international environmental law in addressing space debris. It evaluates the Outer Space Treaty, Liability Convention, Registration Convention, United Nations space-debris mitigation guidelines and the Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability and examines emerging challenges associated with mega-constellations of outer space activities. The paper finds that the existing international framework provides important principles but remains fragmented and largely dependent on voluntary implementation and concludes that the sustainable use of outer space requires a transition from predominantly voluntary debris mitigation towards a more coherent international environmental governance framework.