Power Dynamics in the Age of Space Commercialisation

Rementeria, Santiago

doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2021.101472

Cited by 18 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Continuing to increase partnerships with countries historically uninvolved with space activities will also be important. The historical dominance of the space industry and its resources by relatively few nations risks repeating past trends of resource exploitation and control seen here on Earth (Rementeria, 2022). To truly address this, global equity should be a centerpiece for establishing new space governance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tipping Points of Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit

Nomura,

Rella,

Merritt

et al. 2024

Int J Commons

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Global services like navigation, communication, and Earth observation have increased dramatically in the 21st century due to advances in outer space industries. But as orbits become increasingly crowded with both satellites and inevitable space debris pollution, continued operations become endangered by the heightened risks of debris collisions in orbit. Kessler Syndrome is the term for when a critical threshold of orbiting debris triggers a runaway positive feedback loop of debris collisions, creating debris congestion that can render orbits unusable. As this potential tipping point becomes more widely recognized, there have been renewed calls for debris mitigation and removal. Here, we combine complex systems and social-ecological systems approaches to study how these efforts may affect space debris accumulation and the likelihood of reaching Kessler Syndrome. Specifically, we model how debris levels are affected by future launch rates, cleanup activities, and collisions between extant debris. We contextualize and interpret our dynamic model within a discussion of existing space debris governance and other social, economic, and geopolitical factors that may influence effective collective management of the orbital commons. In line with previous studies, our model finds that debris congestion may be reached in less than 200 years, though a holistic management strategy combining removal and mitigation actions can avoid such outcomes while continuing space activities. Moreover, although active debris removal may be particularly effective, the current lack of market and governance support may impede its implementation. Research into these critical dynamics and the multi-faceted variables that influence debris outcomes can support policymakers in curating impactful governance strategies and realistic transition pathways to sustaining debris-free orbits. Overall, our study is useful for communicating about space debris sustainability in policy and education settings by providing an exploration of policy portfolio options supported by a simple and clear social-ecological modeling approach.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tipping Points of Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit

Nomura,

Rella,

Merritt

et al. 2024

Int J Commons

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“…As the global commons character is under contention, it is important to consider the role of accessibility. As Rementeria (2022) argues "What matters most to hold sway is not the potentials or availability of material possessions but rather having the capacity to control the access and make decisions on a set of underlying power structures" (p. 3). Up until now and in the foreseeable future, launch sites are the key infrastructure where the access enabling technoscientific exploration is negotiated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As nations with space capabilities are increasingly setting the tone of what is and what is not possible in outer space, the chances of alternatives are slinking (Rementeria, 2022). Thinking about the role that outer space infrastructures play in creating this monopoly of access is important as it has implications for the feasibility of past and future governance structures of outer space.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accessibility to Space Infrastructures and Outer Space: Anthropological Insights from Europe’s Spaceport

Korpershoek

2023

International Journal of the Commons

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With the growing influence of the realm of outer space, there is an increasing need to engage in discussions regarding potential governance structures to address ethical, legal, and political questions that arise. Among the considerations is the concept of outer space as global commons, although no consensus has been reached on an international level regarding its implementation. This paper offers a novel perspective by examining the intricate relationship between Earth-based space infrastructures and how their governance can potentially hinder the realization of utopian visions of space exploration for the benefit of all humanity. Through an ethnographic exploration of Europe's Spaceport, this research brings to the forefront the complex interplay of Earthly politics, colonial legacies, and space governance. It challenges the assumption that outer space can be treated in isolation from Earth space and, instead, highlights the different temporal and spatial scales on which Earthly implications resonate throughout the exploration of outer space.

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Finally

Roe

2023

Governance of the Global and Extra-Terrestrial Commons

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Power Dynamics in the Age of Space Commercialisation

Cited by 18 publications

References 31 publications

Tipping Points of Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit

Tipping Points of Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit

Accessibility to Space Infrastructures and Outer Space: Anthropological Insights from Europe’s Spaceport

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