September 2017
Measuring space debris risk
... convenient analytical tool for operators, insurers and other analysts to quantify risk to active and future spacecraft. Space debris is here to stay A wider concern is that proposed new mega constellations will place much more satellite ‘sail...
June 2022
Space activities and space debris - finding an ethical balance
... crowded orbit of the Earth. NASA scientist Donald J Kessler first theorised about the risk of an exponential increase in space debris due to chain collisions in low Earth orbit back in 1978, recognising that if such a scenario were to occur, access...
September 2023
Getting a grip on space sustainability and space debris
... we have seen an ever-increasing number of launches each with the potential to increase the proliferation of space debris. Do governments and the space industry have a ‘deadline’ to get on top of this and, if we don’t act quickly enough, do you see...
February 2018
Are we asking the right questions about space debris?
... of Management, Vol.42, No.3, March 2016 671-697. 8 McKnight, D., “Proposed Series of Orbital Debris Remediation Activities”, 7th European Conference on Space Debris, Darmstadt, April 2017. About the author Dr Darren S McKnight is Technical Director...
September 2020
Tackling space debris - a global priority
... on the characterisation of the space debris environment, as well as on space debris mitigation and remediation measures. Much of the research on space debris focuses on four core themes: space debris detection; debris population characterisation and...
March 2016
Space debris conundrum for international law makers
... than answers. Questions that merit, or even require, broad and careful consideration by all stakeholders in outer space. Space debris, or orbital debris, comprises man-made objects that range in size from miniscule flecks of paint to entire defunct...
