The Case for Space Environmentalism

Authors

Andy Lawrence, University of Edinburgh, Institute for Astronomy
Meredith L. Rawls, University of Washington
Moriba Jah, The University of Texas at Austin
Aaron Boley, The University of British Columbia
Federico Di Vruno, SKA Organisation, UK
Simon Garrington, The University of Manchester
Michael Kramer, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Samantha Lawler, University of Regina
James Lowenthal, Smith CollegeFollow
Jonathan McDowell, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Mark McCaughrean, ESTEC - European Space Research and Technology Centre

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2022

Publication Title

Nature Astronomy

Abstract

The shell bound by the Karman line at a height of ~80–100 km above the Earth’s surface and geosynchronous orbit at ~36,000 km is defined as the orbital space surrounding the Earth. It is within this region, and especially in low Earth orbit, where environmental issues are becoming urgent because of the rapid growth of the anthropogenic space object population, including satellite ‘mega-constellations’. In this Perspective, we summarize the case for considering the orbital space around the Earth as an additional ecosystem, subject to the same care and concerns, and the same broad regulations as the oceans and the atmosphere, for example. We rely on the orbital space environment by looking through it, as well as by working within it. Hence, we should consider damage to professional astronomy, public stargazing, and the cultural importance of the sky, as well as the sustainability of commercial, civic, and military activity in space. Damage to the orbital space environment has problematic features in common with other types of environmental issue. First, the observed and predicted damage is incremental and complex, with many contributors. Second, whether or not space is formally and legally seen as a global commons, the growing commercial exploitation of what may seem to be a ‘free’ resource is in fact externalizing the true costs.

Volume

6

Issue

4

First Page

428

Last Page

435

DOI

10.1038/s41550-022-01655-6

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Rights

Licensed to Smith College and distributed CC-BY under the Smith College Faculty Open Access Policy.

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Lawrence, Andy; Rawls, Meredith L.; Jah, Moriba; Boley, Aaron; Di Vruno, Federico; Garrington, Simon; Kramer, Michael; Lawler, Samantha; Lowenthal, James; McDowell, Jonathan; and McCaughrean, Mark, "The Case for Space Environmentalism" (2022). Astronomy: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ast_facpubs/85