Preservation of Near-Earth Space for Future Generations

The questions that must be asked as man-made space debris in the near-Earth environment becomes a critical problem.

John A. Simpson (Edited by)

9780521036757, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 February 2007

264 pages, 118 b/w illus. 11 tables
29.6 x 20.8 x 1.7 cm, 0.644 kg

'This is a splendid volume. Its usefulness is enhanced by a short bibliography on space debris. It is a book which should be read with care by all astronomers and to which due reference will be made in years to come.' Observatory

What will happen to the near-Earth space environment? How can we ensure the survival of future scientific, commercial and military satellites and space stations? This book addresses the questions that must be asked as man-made debris in space around the Earth - from dust particles to rocket casings, and even radioactive materials - becomes a critical problem. World wide specialists address the issues, problems and policies concerned with the preservation of near-Earth space in this volume. Their articles cover the technical aspects, and the economic and legal issues concerned, including the enforcement and monitoring of international agreements and the resolution of disputes. This clearly written and well-illustrated survey offers the professional and concerned non-specialist an authoritative review of the problems with, and solutions to, space debris.

List of contributors
Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction J. A. Simpson
Part II. Defining the Problem: 2. The Earth satellite population: official growth and constituents Nicholas L. Johnson
3. The current and future environment: an overall assessment Donald J. Kessler
4. The current and future space debris environment as assessed in Europe Dietrich Rex
5. Human survivability issues in the low Earth orbit space debris environment Bernard Bloom
6. Protecting the space environment for astronomy Joel R. Primack
7. Effects of space debris on commercial spacecraft - the RADARSAT example H. Robert Warren and M. J. Yelle
8. Potential effects of the space debris environment on military space systems Albert E. Reinhardt
Part III. Mitigation of and Adaptation to the Space Environment: Techniques and Practices: 9. Precluding post-launch fragmentation of delta stages Irvin J. Webster and T. Y. Kawamura
10. US international and interagency cooperation in orbital debris Daniel V. Jacobs
11. ESA concepts for space debris mitigation and risk reduction Heiner Klinkrad
12. Space debris: how France handles mitigation and adaptation Jean-Louis Marcé
13. Facing seriously the issue of protection of the outer space environment Qi Yong Liang
14. Space debris - mitigation and adaptation U. R. Rao
15. Near Earth space contamination and counteractions Vladimir F. Utkin and S. V. Chekalin
16. The current and future space debris environment as assessed in Japan Susumu Toda
17. Orbital debris minimization and mitigation techniques Joseph P. Loftus Jr, Philip D. Anz-Meador and Robert Reynolds
Part IV. Economic Issues: 18. In pursuit of a sustainable space environment: economic issues in regulating space debris Molly K. Macauley
19. The economics of space operations: insurance aspects Christopher T. W. Kunstadter
Part V. Legal Issues: 20. Environmental treatymaking: lessons learned for controlling pollution of outer space Winfried Lang
21. Regulation of orbital debris - current status Howard A. Baker
22. Who should regulate the space environment: the laissez-faire, national and multinational options Diane P. Wood
Part VI. A Multilateral Treaty: 23. Orbital debris: prospects for international cooperation Jeffrey Maclure and William C. Bartley
24. Preservation of near Earth space for future generations: current initiatives on space debris in the United Nations Stephen Gorove
25. A legal regime for orbital debris: elements of a multilateral treaty Pamela L. Meredith
Part VII. Panel Discussions: 26. Panel discussion led by Diane Wood
27. Panel discussion led by Paul Uhlir
28. Suggested further reading on orbital debris.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG]