PROTECTION OF THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT - TIME FOR A POLICY

摘要

Most space professionals believe that space exploration and development is desirable, beneficial and, perhaps, inevitable. Unfortunately, the majority of plans for space development have followed a model based on competition, exploitation, and ignorance of the space environment, a model which cannot remain valid much longer.rnThis paper reviews the damage space exploration and development has already done to the space environment and provides an indication of what could happen in the near future if a new model or 'ethic' of environmental-awareness is not developed.rnThe paper calls for the formation of an internationally-based study group tasked with the development of a new policy, or at least a set of policy guidelines, which will form the foundation for a sustainable future for space exploration and development.