A Personal Vision for a Circular Space Economy
In my odyssey through the cosmos, the breathtaking vistas of space have not only sparked curiosity but a profound sense of responsibility. Rooted in the insights of indigenous communities and guided by the principles of traditional ecological knowledge, I find a compelling need to present the “Charter for a Circular Space Economy” as a transformative alternative to our current trajectory, one that can avert our collective path towards self-extinction.
Our present approach to space activities often relies on unsustainable practices, leading to a proliferation of space debris and environmental degradation. The “Charter for a Circular Space Economy” emerges as a beacon of change, offering a paradigm shift from the current trajectory. It champions the integration of indigenous wisdom with Western science, presenting a collaborative approach that stands in stark contrast to the current siloed methods.
For instance, our prevailing reliance on single-use satellites and rockets contributes to the growing space debris problem. The charter advocates for responsible disposal practices, actively opposing the prevalent practice of abandonment. By embracing this circular approach, we can minimize the environmental impact and reduce the risk of collisions in orbital space.
Traditional ecological knowledge also highlights the importance of sustainable design principles, an aspect often overlooked in contemporary space endeavors. The charter encourages the integration of eco-friendly practices in satellite and spacecraft manufacturing. This shift towards sustainable design not only enhances reusability but also minimizes the environmental footprint of space activities.
Furthermore, the charter introduces innovative metrics like the space traffic footprint and orbital carrying capacity. These metrics serve as powerful tools to quantify the environmental and operational burden imposed by space objects, ensuring that our activities remain within sustainable limits. This contrasts with our current lack of a comprehensive framework to assess the cumulative impact of space operations.
The interconnectedness amongst all things, as envisioned in the charter, offers a path away from the self-destructive tendencies of our current practices. By embracing stewardship across generations and recruiting empathy across humanity, we can reverse our course towards collective self-extinction. The charter calls for a holistic coordination of space events, avoiding conflicts and increasing orbital safety — a stark contrast to our current fragmented and conflict-prone space endeavors.
In presenting this charter, I envision a future where our approach to space activities reflects a commitment to sustainability, stewardship, and collective responsibility. It offers tangible examples and practical solutions that, if adopted globally, can usher in a new era of space exploration — one that not only safeguards our planet but ensures a flourishing cosmic legacy for generations to come.
Charter for a Circular Space Economy
Preamble:
We, the undersigned, recognizing the critical importance of sustainable space practices and the need for responsible management of space resources, hereby establish this Charter for a Circular Space Economy. This document outlines principles and commitments to foster international collaboration, promote the transition towards a circular economy in space, address the impact of space debris under relevant UN treaties and conventions, enhance accountability through mutual verification, monitoring, and assessment of space operator behaviors and practices, incorporate perspectives from all knowledge systems in capacity building, holistically coordinate space operator events for transparency, avoid decisions that outpace the environment’s ability to provide feedback on unintended consequences, and integrate sustainability metrics for the holistic use and management of the orbital space environment.
Article 1: Vision and Goals
1.1. Vision: We envision a future where space activities prioritize sustainability, minimize waste, and contribute to a circular space economy that ensures the long-term viability of space activities and exploration.
1.2. Goals:
· Promote the adoption of circular economy principles in all aspects of space activities.
· Facilitate international cooperation to address challenges and opportunities in implementing a circular space economy.
· Acknowledge that any space debris-generating event will be considered harmful interference, causing both environmental and operational damage that hinders the peaceful use and unhindered access to orbital space under relevant UN treaties and conventions.
· Minimize the use of single-use satellites and rockets through responsible disposal practices.
· Enhance accountability through mutual verification, monitoring, and assessment of space operator behaviors.
· Ensure capacity building includes perspectives from all knowledge systems.
· Holistically coordinate space operator events and activities for transparency, conflict avoidance, and increased orbital safety.
· Strive to make environmentally informed decisions.
· Avoid decisions that outpace the environment’s ability to provide feedback on unintended consequences.
Article 2: International Collaboration
2.1. Coordinated Efforts: We commit to working collaboratively with space-faring nations, international organizations, and private entities to develop and implement circular practices in space.
2.2. Data Sharing: Encourage transparent sharing of orbital and resource data to optimize space traffic management and enable efficient circular resource use.
2.3. Open Data for Accountability: Emphasize the open and accessible sharing of relevant data and information to support mutual verification, monitoring, and assessment of space operator behaviors.
2.4. Cross-Referencing Databases and Registries: Advocate for cross-referencing of databases and registries to ensure accuracy and completeness in tracking space objects and activities.
2.5. International Cooperation Framework: Strengthen the language around international collaboration, emphasizing the shared responsibility of the global community in ensuring sustainable space activities.
Article 3: Design for Sustainability
3.1. Sustainable Design: Advocate for the integration of sustainable design principles in satellite and spacecraft manufacturing to enhance reusability, modularity, and minimize environmental impact.
3.2. Extended Producer Responsibility: Support policies that hold space actors accountable for the responsible disposal and recycling of their space assets, particularly for minimizing single-use objects.
3.3. Incentive Mechanisms: Introduce explicit incentive mechanisms for adherence to the charter, such as recognition, awards, or financial incentives, to encourage entities to adopt and implement sustainable space practices. An example would be to make use of the Space Sustainability Rating within national licensing and authorization frameworks.
Article 4: Resource Recovery and Recycling
4.1. Technological Innovation: Promote research and development in technologies for the recovery and recycling of space objects, along with materials from defunct satellites and space debris.
4.2. Circular Business Models: Encourage the development of business models that prioritize leasing, repairability, and extending the operational life of space assets.
Article 5: Responsible Disposal of Single-Use Satellites and Rockets
5.1. Active Disposal Process: Recognize that responsible disposal of single-use space objects implies an active process, avoiding the current practice of abandonment.
5.2. Demise Design: Mandate that single-use space objects must be designed for demise, ensuring that their end-of-life phase does not pollute any environment as a result.
Article 6: Regulatory Framework
6.1. International Regulations: Work towards the establishment of international regulations that enforce circular economy practices in space, ensuring responsible resource use and waste management.
6.2. Compensation for Negative Impact: Recognize that any space operators negatively affected by space debris which have associated launching states are incentivized to seek compensation for both environmental and operational damage, in accordance with relevant UN treaties and conventions.
6.3. Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Ensure that issues of liability for damages and conflict resolution utilize mechanisms established by UN treaties and conventions to strengthen enforceability and credibility.
Article 7: Education and Capacity Building
7.1. Training Programs: Invest in educational programs and capacity-building initiatives to train professionals in circular space economy practices, incorporating perspectives from all knowledge systems.
7.2. Cultural Shift: Foster a culture of sustainability within the space industry through awareness and educational campaigns.
Article 8: Innovation for Circular Solutions
8.1. Research Support: Support innovation and research in circular solutions, including in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), and repurposing of space assets.
8.2. Adaptability and Innovation: Introduce provisions that encourage ongoing innovation in sustainable technologies and practices, as well as mechanisms for adapting the charter to accommodate technological advancements.
Article 9: Holistic Coordination for Transparency and Predictability
9.1. Holistic Planning: Advocate for the holistic coordination and planning of space operator events and activities to enhance transparency, avoid conflicts, and increase orbital safety. This should include, inter alia, the development of effective practices such as the determination of orbital right of way.
Article 10: Development and Implementation of Sustainability Metrics
10.1. Space Traffic Footprint: Jointly develop and implement a space traffic footprint, akin to a carbon footprint, as a composite index assigned to every trackable space object. This index quantifies the environmental and operational burden that the existence of each space object poses in orbital space.
10.2. Orbital Carrying Capacity: Develop an orbital carrying capacity to quantify a limit beyond which a given orbital region can no longer be used without some intolerable level of undesirable operational, environmental, cultural, and economic outcomes. In combination with the Space Traffic Footprint, this will then quantify how much orbital carrying capacity is being consumed and by which launching states.
10.3. Monitoring and Reporting: Establish a robust system for monitoring and reporting on the progress of signatories in implementing the charter, providing transparency and accountability.
Article 11: Public Awareness and Engagement
11.1. Public Awareness Programs: Incorporate strategies for public awareness and engagement to foster support for the charter and promote a sense of shared responsibility among the global public for the sustainable use of space.
Article 12: Collaboration with Space Insurance Companies and Orbital Space Salvage
12.1. Active Role for Space Insurance Companies: Collaborate to help space insurance companies play an active role in driving the circular space economy.
12.2. Legal and Practical Solutions for Orbital Space Salvage: Establish legal and practical solutions for orbital space salvage, ensuring the efficient recovery and reuse of space assets.
Article 13: Review and Adaptation
13.1. Regular Evaluation: Establish mechanisms for regular review and adaptation of this charter to address evolving challenges and opportunities in the implementation of a circular space economy.
In Witness Whereof, we, the undersigned, commit to the principles and goals set forth in this Charter for a Circular Space Economy.
Date: [Date]
Signatures:
[Signature 1] [Signature 2]
[Organization/Individual] [Organization/Individual]
[Signature 3] [Signature 4]
[Organization/Individual] [Organization/Individual]
