Space Resource Utilization: A View from an Emerging Space Faring Nation by Annette Froehlich

Author:Annette Froehlich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

International rules for space traffic

Internationally agreed standards and regulations to achieve compatibility among various space systems and facilities as well as improve safety and reliability

Protection of people and facilities on the ground from both direct hazards and indirect environmental effects

“Deflection dilemma” is a term coined in the early 1990s to describe the reciprocity inherent in the capability of mankind to deflect asteroids on a collision path with Earth. In other words, it is human’s capability to deflect a passing asteroid to collide with Earth (presumably a collision with a specific target in mind)29 or more recently for the purposes of asteroid mining. These practices may place otherwise non-threatened people and property, on Earth, at risk.

Furthermore, with asteroid mining in the pipeline the possibility of asteroids colliding with Earth will increase as there are more chances for system failures during the mining operations and all points along the possible impact path are placed in jeopardy.30 Given that the populations and property put in jeopardy will, in the worst case, extend across international boundaries, the planning and execution of such a mining mission will necessitate international safety measures, controls and coordination to be put in place. Currently no laws, neither national nor international, exist to guide such a situation or the safety of mining operations in general.

As space is becoming more and more privatized, mining opportunities in space are following suit, which poses a severe contamination threat (to civilians on Earth) and a possible threat to the human capital (if needed at the asteroid). A further challenge for contamination prevention is the provision of adequate laws and policies. The Outer Space Treaty is becoming inadequate to the upcoming challenges in this field. Article IX is the only one that discusses contamination and collision and together with the other treaties does not consider private spacefaring entities at all.

Grappling with these daunting issues by an appropriate international body should be undertaken immediately since the development of rational safety policies and measures will be extremely difficult after an impact is announced and an impact path is specified.31 Developing common standards for space safety – at a national and international level – needs to, and will, continue to improve. These safety regulations and standards will evolve as the need for such measures is increasingly recognized and increased international participation makes them necessary.

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