Challenging issues of international cooperation in the development of a practical approach with regard to space debris mitigation

Paper number

IAC-16,A6,8,4,x34564

Coauthor

Ms. Anna Prokopchik, ROSCOSMOS, Russian Federation

Year

2016

Abstract

The Russian Federation shares the global concern regarding the increasing thread of space debris population in near-Earth space which may affect the safety and security of outer space operations. State Space Corporation “Roscosmos” is a member of all international organizations that deal with the development of the regulations for space debris mitigation: UN COPUOS, IADC, ISO. The Russian National Standard “General Requirements to Spacecraft and Orbital Stages on Space Debris Mitigation” applicable at the national level is fully in line with all international guidelines. 
The report provides an overview of challenging issues of international cooperation that arise in the course of developing a practical approach with regard to space debris mitigation and some recommendations for dealing with them.
A great part of such challenges are referred to the appearance of new trends of global space activities that are to be reflected in the international papers, e.g. space debris active removal.   Operations for active removal should be preceded by elaboration of criteria for their performing. States and international organizations considering or initiating execution of, or involvement in, operations for active removal of space debris or non-functional spacecraft should in the process of assessing feasibility and safety of such operations and throughout their preparation and execution stages, thoroughly review and effectively implement a coherent set of stringent requirements and measures aimed at ensuring identification, analysis, evaluation and prevention of risks, as well as employing appropriate means and methods that would make such operations safe and fully consistent with the principles and norms of international law.
Moreover, in order to ensure the development of scientific cooperation activities states and international intergovernmental organizations should encourage the development and use of relevant technologies for the measurement, monitoring and characterization of the orbital and physical properties of space debris and then promote the collection, sharing and dissemination of space debris monitoring information.

Abstract document

IAC-16,A6,8,4,x34564.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,A6,8,4,x34564.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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