Humans have made great strides when it comes to sustainability on planet earth. But now, for the first time, this focus is broadening to include deepest, darkest space.
The impact of human activity in space is not to be underestimated. That’s where the Plan for Space Sustainability is going to come into play. Designed to establish best practice for sustainable space operations, it targets sustainable space technology, space launches and space orbit programs.
The government is thinking, not just outside the box, but outside the cosmos. Put another way, it wants to make the UK a space superpower.
As reported in Space News, the plan has four main elements:
- to review the current regulatory framework for orbital activities
- to work internationally with bodies such as the United Nations and other G7 nations on space sustainability
- to develop ‘simple accurate metrics’ for measuring space sustainability
- an initial £5m funding package for an active debris removal programme
Just as a set of principles have been developed for sustainability on earth, the Plan for Space Sustainability marks a first step for sustainability on the edges of our atmosphere and beyond. The universe is our oyster.
