Orbital Debris Increasingly Topic of International Diplomatic Talks

Orbital debris and space sustainability are increasingly a discussion topic in international diplomacy, said Elle Agnew, Canadian Space Agency manager-international and regulatory affairs, Wednesday. During a George Washington University Space Policy Institute symposium, Agnew said space security was long a topic in G-7 meetings, but last year for the first time "we really dove into the science part," such as debris. She said the G-20 started a space economy forum as a venue for similar talks. Nicolas Maubert, French Embassy space counselor, said the U.N.'s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is an effective but slow international forum for tackling space issues. He said there should be national commitments to implementing COPUOS' 21 guidelines for space sustainability, as well as discussions about harmonizing the regulatory regimes of nations with launch and manufacturing capacity. Asked whether the mushrooming mega constellations raise Outer Space Treaty issues, State Department Office of the Legal Advisor lawyer Emily Pierce said those are issues that need consideration.