Space Debris Becoming a Significant Problem for Military and Civilian Space Sectors Another issue that affects both the military and the civilian sectors is space debris, which results from all space activities. A failure to mitigate the accumulation of debris will have devastating effects on both communities. With more than 9,000 objects over 10 centimeters in size already being tracked in various orbits by U.S. Space Command, the debris problem is an increasing concern. The expected overall growth in space activity, and possible U.S. and foreign ASAT tests, will further heighten the danger of collisions that could be fatal to satellites or spacecraft. ( More ... ) Moltz, James Clay. "Reining in the Space Cowboys." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Vol. 59, No. 1 (January/February 2003). [ 2 quotes ] U.N. Discussions on Space Weapons Arms Control Going Nowhere Discussions on banning weapons in space remain frozen at the Conference on Disarmament due to a U.S.-Chinese dispute over whether a new space treaty should be the ultimate goal. It is unlikely there will be concrete results any time soon. International efforts for a new treaty governing space activities (and particularly weapons), or for an amendment to the Outer Space Treaty, remain almost exclusively at the proposal stage. ( More ... ) Moltz, James Clay. "Reining in the Space Cowboys." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Vol. 59, No. 1 (January/February 2003). [ 2 quotes ]
Another issue that affects both the military and the civilian sectors is space debris, which results from all space activities. A failure to mitigate the accumulation of debris will have devastating effects on both communities. With more than 9,000 objects over 10 centimeters in size already being tracked in various orbits by U.S. Space Command, the debris problem is an increasing concern. The expected overall growth in space activity, and possible U.S. and foreign ASAT tests, will further heighten the danger of collisions that could be fatal to satellites or spacecraft. ( More ... ) Moltz, James Clay. "Reining in the Space Cowboys." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Vol. 59, No. 1 (January/February 2003). [ 2 quotes ]
Discussions on banning weapons in space remain frozen at the Conference on Disarmament due to a U.S.-Chinese dispute over whether a new space treaty should be the ultimate goal. It is unlikely there will be concrete results any time soon. International efforts for a new treaty governing space activities (and particularly weapons), or for an amendment to the Outer Space Treaty, remain almost exclusively at the proposal stage. ( More ... ) Moltz, James Clay. "Reining in the Space Cowboys." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Vol. 59, No. 1 (January/February 2003). [ 2 quotes ]