The Economics of Sustainable Space Waste Management

Abstract Increased commercial activities in low Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond require the design and implementation of sustainable waste management strategies in general and satellite debris control in particular. This chapter describes how best practices in terrestrial sustainable waste management extend to the orbital context and analyzes several satellite debris control policies proposed in the literature. A policy variation with particularly promising features is a satellite debris cap-and-trade approach with free initial allocation of debris permits to founding members, analogous to formation of the successful US sulfur dioxide permit market. The US FCC seems able to attach debris permit policy to any satellite operator inside or outside the US seeking access to the US satellite communication market. Ideas for further incentivizing robust sharing of satellite innovations via intellectual property licensing and cooperative R&D arrangements are also considered. The chapter concludes with discussion of additional avenues for further research.