In an article published this Thursday in the journal Science, scientists call for a legally binding international treaty to ensure that the Earth’s orbit is not irreparably damaged by the future expansion of the space industry on a global scale.
The position is taken by experts in such areas as satellite technology and plastic pollution of the oceans.
Some of the experts were at the forefront of the commitment to the global agreement to combat plastic pollution, which was adopted in March 2022 by more than 170 countries at the United Nations Environment Assembly.
According to experts, any binding treaty to protect the Earth’s orbit from space debris pollution should include measures that provide for the liability of manufacturers and users of satellites (and their debris) from the moment they are launched into space. Business expenses should be included in accountability.
It is estimated that there will be more than 60,000 satellites in Earth orbit by 2030, with billions of remnants of ancient untraceable satellites circulating.
The British University of Plymouth, whose scientists have supported the idea of an international treaty to protect the Earth’s orbit, warned in a statement that “there are fears that the projected growth of the ‘space’ industry could render much of the Earth’s orbit unusable.”
North American Space Agency (NASA) researcher Kimberly Miner, who signed the Science article, emphasizes that “minimizing environmental pollution from low Earth orbit will support space exploration and the development of space technologies” with an impact on human life.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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