Connecting Diverse Data to Address Emerging Space Sector Challenges

May, Samantha Le

doi:10.1007/978-981-15-8924-9_9

Commercial and Military Uses of Outer Space

2020

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-8924-9_9

|View full text |Cite

Connecting Diverse Data to Address Emerging Space Sector Challenges

Samantha Le May

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...

Citation Types

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Year Published

2024

Publication Types

Select...

Article1

Relationship

Self Cite0

Independent1

Authors

Journals

Cited by 1 publication

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Capitalising on Uncertainty: Exploring the Failure of International Law to Address the Risk Generated by the Proliferation of Space Debris

Seffinga

2024

Global Jurist

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The increase in the number of space activities in recent decades has led to a concomitant increase in space debris in orbit around Earth. Space debris pose a risk not just for specific satellites, but also on a systemic level, as a collision cascade can result in the near-Earth orbits becoming unusable. In turn, this would entail a loss of the services currently provided through satellites. The international community has recognised this risk. Despite this, states are reluctant to negotiate and conclude international legal rules to address the proliferation of space debris. This article explores a root cause of this discrepancy. It argues that while law is typically seen as the regulator of uncertainty, international law’s regulation of outer space – under the interests of global capital investors – is directed by principles that support processes of commodification (i.e., the freedom of use), rather than principles that manage the risks associated with the proliferation of space debris as these would constrain (or are perceived to constrain) the expansion of capital (e.g., the precautionary principle). Therefore, international law – at the level of principles – is a co-producer of uncertainty. This conclusion is reached by exploring the proliferation of space debris through Ulrich Beck’s world risk society and by incorporating capital and economic power into his work. This inclusion reveals (i) that it is the accumulation of capital that generates risks and (ii) that capital exploits the socially constructed nature of risk to legitimise its expansion. International law – as both a regulator and co-producer of uncertainty – plays an essential role in legitimising these processes.

show abstract

Capitalising on Uncertainty: Exploring the Failure of International Law to Address the Risk Generated by the Proliferation of Space Debris

Seffinga

2024

Global Jurist

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Connecting Diverse Data to Address Emerging Space Sector Challenges

Cited by 1 publication

References 33 publications

Capitalising on Uncertainty: Exploring the Failure of International Law to Address the Risk Generated by the Proliferation of Space Debris

Capitalising on Uncertainty: Exploring the Failure of International Law to Address the Risk Generated by the Proliferation of Space Debris

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About