Above our heads, in the common airspace, various types of satellites are constantly orbiting, somewhat randomly.
The recent and untimely unilateral move of the Russian Federation suggests that it is time to try to arrange what is happening to us. It just so happened that Russia – without prior notice – has just sent a missile with which it actually shot down one of its satellites. As a result, where before a satellite orbited, multiple pieces of a “pre-satellite” doing so today, today are irreparably damaged. Then useless.
That is why those, like Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who demand common rules for everyone in outer space, are certainly right. But this may not be easy because, strictly speaking, the states entering the common airspace consider, not without reason, that their respective efforts have clear military features.
It is possible that the longer efforts are made to try to arrange a common airspace, the more complicated the task will be. At the moment, the voluntary destruction of the Russian spy satellite had an immediate consequence, since there were about 1,500 pieces that previously made it float disorderly in space.
These pieces are spinning – and it should be noted – at an amazing speed of seven kilometers per second.
The sudden destruction of the Russian satellite forced those on the International Space Station to suddenly take a series of precautionary measures.
The required regulations should regulate not only the behavior of the public sector, but also the behavior of the private sector.
Since the international community banned the deployment of military missiles in space in 1967, this danger apparently no longer exists. Among the issues that need to be regulated, there is also a topic related to the uncontrolled “saturation” of the common space, to the detriment of everyone.
In terms of communications, the current satellites orbit around 35,000 km from the Earth and each has its own predetermined orbit, which is common knowledge.
Although the airspace may not seem like it, it is not infinite, but rather finite. Then collisions become possible. And you should try to reduce it.
The lack of a framework of basic regulations already has its first negative consequences: insurers – in the face of current uncertainties – are increasing, step by step, the cost of the services they provide.
Authors such as Fogh Rasmussen mentioned above suggest that the body responsible for regulation should be included in the world of the United Nations and, more specifically, the International Telecommunication Union.
The absence of a framework of basic standards, agreed upon by all participants in space activity, means not only addressing the risks of accidents, but also turning the competition between nations operating in outer space into an issue of a predominantly military character. Obviously, this is far from ideal.
Former Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the United Nations.
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