In December 2019, two of my authored articles were published:
Cambridge University Press published my article,
“Legal Regime Sustainability in Outer Space: Theory and Practice,” appears in Global Sustainability, Planetary Sustainability volume of Cambridge Sustainability Series, published by the Cambridge University Press, December 2019.
And, Global-e published my article, “Outer Space Sustainability: Legal Dilemmas on the Final Frontier,”
Both articles examine the theoretical and practical challenges posed by mega-constellations of satellites that will exponentially raise the number of objects in low earth orbit. Space debris, i.e., “dead” satellites and parts of rocket launchers and other space “junk,” is already degrading the sustainability of access to outer space. India’s 2019 anti-satellite test where it destroyed its own satellite in low earth orbit created a vast cloud of debris without significant condemnation by the international community. The articles examine how “soft” non-binding guidelines for avoiding space debris may be re-considered as much “harder” international law thereby raising the political costs for bad actors.