Space sustainability

J. Lauren Napier

doi:10.4337/9781803925479.00054

Space sustainability

J. Lauren Napier^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Northumbria Law School

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary › peer-review

Abstract

The concept of space sustainability is different to sustainable development and is important for all space activities, current and future. Space sustainability can be understood to encompass the minimisation of harm to the space environment as part of the mission objectives alongside other technical and scientific goals. The concept is held in high regard in space, especially in low Earth orbit (LEO), because LEO is an environment already congested, contested, and competitive. That is not to say that sustainability is less important for other orbits or the Moon and celestial bodies. State and non-state actors must address the sustainability of space through tools such as the Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Elgar Encyclopedia of Space Policy and Governance
Editors	Sa’id Mosteshar, Christoph Beischl, Arne Sönnichsen
Place of Publication	Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Publisher	Edward Elgar
Chapter	47
Pages	177-180
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9781803925479, 9781035369683
ISBN (Print)	9781803925462
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803925479.00054
Publication status	Published - 25 Jun 2025

Keywords

LTS Guidelines
Responsible behaviour
Space debris
Space governance
Space sustainability

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.4337/9781803925479.00054

Cite this

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title = "Space sustainability",

abstract = "The concept of space sustainability is different to sustainable development and is important for all space activities, current and future. Space sustainability can be understood to encompass the minimisation of harm to the space environment as part of the mission objectives alongside other technical and scientific goals. The concept is held in high regard in space, especially in low Earth orbit (LEO), because LEO is an environment already congested, contested, and competitive. That is not to say that sustainability is less important for other orbits or the Moon and celestial bodies. State and non-state actors must address the sustainability of space through tools such as the Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.",

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AB - The concept of space sustainability is different to sustainable development and is important for all space activities, current and future. Space sustainability can be understood to encompass the minimisation of harm to the space environment as part of the mission objectives alongside other technical and scientific goals. The concept is held in high regard in space, especially in low Earth orbit (LEO), because LEO is an environment already congested, contested, and competitive. That is not to say that sustainability is less important for other orbits or the Moon and celestial bodies. State and non-state actors must address the sustainability of space through tools such as the Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

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KW - Responsible behaviour

KW - Space debris

KW - Space governance

KW - Space sustainability

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U2 - 10.4337/9781803925479.00054

DO - 10.4337/9781803925479.00054

M3 - Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary

AN - SCOPUS:105017934712

SN - 9781803925462

SP - 177

EP - 180

BT - Elgar Encyclopedia of Space Policy and Governance

A2 - Mosteshar, Sa’id

A2 - Beischl, Christoph

A2 - Sönnichsen, Arne

PB - Edward Elgar

CY - Cheltenham, United Kingdom

ER -

Space sustainability

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Planetary protection

Cite this