Protecting “The Fragile Frontier” – The Need For a Policy

Paper number

IAC-06-E3.P.1.05

Author

Mr. Mark Williamson, International Space Review, United Kingdom

Year

2006

Abstract

The space environment is already a venue for many types of human activity – from scientific research to tourism – but the current breadth of space applications will pale into insignificance once mankind returns to the Moon, and later ventures forth to Mars.  While most space professionals will welcome this expansion across ‘the final frontier’, space exploration and development carries with it a certain amount of undesirable baggage.

This paper reviews the damage caused to the space environment in the first half-century of the Space Age, focusing particularly on Earth orbital debris and spacecraft debris deposited on planetary surfaces.  The need to monitor and control the pollution of the Moon’s environment is a key concern, given current plans for renewed lunar exploration.  The fact that a single engine firing in lunar orbit can virtually double the mass of the tenuous atmosphere has important ramifications for lunar science.  The outgassing from an active lunar base could have a similar impact.  Looking further ahead, the cultural impact of lunar tourism on the historic sites of the Apollo landings, and others, could be both significant and irreversible.  Unlike the terrestrial environment, the Moon has no capability for self-repair.

Although it would be undesirable and counterproductive to attempt to ban specific types of lunar exploration and development, it is important to recognise that explorers and developers often fail to recognise the environmental impact of their activities.  The paper draws a number of terrestrial analogies and cites space-related examples.

Our experience of space exploration so far has shown that protection of the space environment is unlikely to be addressed automatically as part of any development plan.  It requires the formulation and international acceptance of an enforceable policy.  The difficulty, of course, is to ensure a balance between overbearing protection of ‘the fragile frontier’ and a laissez faire policy of unlimited development. 

This paper provides initial suggestions for a proposed policy for the protection of the space environment and highlights some of the pitfalls.  With the return to the Moon planned for the next decade, and the potential for lunar industrial development and adventure tourism not far behind, there is no advantage in delay.  It is time to extend the ethic of environmental protection to space.

Abstract document

IAC-06-E3.P.1.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-E3.P.1.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.