From orbit to ocean: the hidden cost of our space ambitions

What goes up must come back down again, so what happens when things we send into outer space return to Earth, and what regulations are in place to protect our environment?

This is what Edinburgh Law School PhD Candidate, Rania Djojosugito’s work is exploring. Her research focuses on the regulation of space activities, specifically the legal framework of space debris atmospheric re-entry and its environmental impact on the Earth.

The exponential growth of the space industry, which the Bank of America estimates will be worth $1.4 trillion by 2030, is leading to growing questions about the sustainability of space activities.

Through her research into the current international legal frameworks that are in place, Rania has found that although they protect people and properties, there is little consideration on the impact of space activities on the earth’s environment. The UN’s Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines advise that “due consideration” should be given to ensure that any debris that survives the return to the Earth's surface should not “pose an undue risk to people or property, including through environmental pollution caused by hazardous substances”. However, as these are only guidelines, they are not required to be followed and therefore no enforceable action can be taken at the infringement of these. 

When space debris re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up which can leave pollutants such as metal vapours in the air. Moreover, not all debris burns up, and controlled deorbits of larger orbital objects such as satellites usually aim for remote ocean areas like Point Nemo, a location in the South Pacific Ocean that is the furthest point from land and people. There is currently no legislation in place requiring companies to clear up space junk and as it is a costly task there is little incentive to do so, meaning that anything that lands in the ocean is left there.

Most research so far has worked on designing satellites that minimize the danger posed to people and only recently have academics and scientists taken a serious interest in addressing the potential environmental impacts on the Earth. An upcoming study exploring the environmental impact of space debris re-entry is being conducted by the University of Southampton. 

Speaking to CMS Law-Now, Rania said: “The world is starting to recognize that practices like the re-entry of debris is posing risks to our Earth environment. Space is vital for human development and flourishing, but it can’t come at the cost of our fragile environments: the ozone/atmosphere, our oceans, and more. Now with the increasing interest in space activities, it’s more important than ever to look at how these practices can impact us in the long term. Space debris pollution can’t be left as an afterthought as was done with plastics and other harmful wastes, because look where we are now.”

Rania believes that more work has to be done to examine the environmental impact on the Earth caused by space debris. She hopes that with further research countries will work together to come up with sustainable solutions and alternatives to help minimise the impact that space debris has on our already fragile planet.

Rania research has recently been featured by CMS Law-Now and The Herald.

CMS Law-Now – Space exploration: what goes up, must come down

The Herald – Addressing the environmental impact of the space race