The space sustainability paradox
Wilson, Andrew Ross and Vasile, Massimiliano (2023) The space sustainability paradox. Journal of Cleaner Production, 423. 138869. ISSN 0959-6526 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138869)
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Abstract
The recent growth of the space sector, spurred by a surge in private actors, has led to a sharp increase in our ability to address societal challenges through space data. However, this has exacerbated an already critical situation in space: the proliferation of space debris and a critical expansion of space traffic which is leading to high levels of orbital congestion. In parallel, increased levels of spacecraft production and orbital launches are also heightening the environmental footprint of the sector. This might lead to a paradoxical situation whereby the use of space to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) becomes unsustainable from the perspective of both the Earth and space environment. This situation can be described as the ‘space sustainability paradox’. This paper presents this concept for the first time and argues that existing policies and remediation actions are not a long-term sustainable solution for tackling this issue and may actually intensify the problem. This places an added importance upon addressing space sustainability in a more coherent, strategic and responsible manner, potentially based on the doughnut economic model of social and planetary boundaries. Doing so may prevent the sector from falling victim to a ‘tragedy of the commons’ type of scenario and avoid negative trends from becoming the norm. As a result, this would ensure that outer space can continue to be used by future generations to address societal challenges, without priming severe and enduring damage to the Earth and space environment.
ORCID iDs
Wilson, Andrew Ross ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0215-6669 and Vasile, Massimiliano ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8302-6465;-
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Item type: Article ID code: 86730 Dates: DateEvent15 October 2023Published18 September 2023Published Online13 September 2023AcceptedSubjects: Technology > Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics > Aeronautics. Aeronautical engineering Department: Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Strategic Research Themes > Ocean, Air and Space
Technology and Innovation Centre > Advanced Engineering and ManufacturingDepositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 20 Sep 2023 10:01 Last modified: 12 Dec 2024 15:00 URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/86730