Anthropogenic Impacts in Space: Challenges and Opportunities

With the first launch of an artificial satellite into space in 1957, humans have extended their influence beyond Earth. During the early 21 st century, human activity in space encompasses not only scientific exploration but also routine use of space for commerce, national defense, and other strategic activities of both practical and political value. With increases in reusability and lower cost/kg to orbit, space utilization can be expected to increase significantly in the 21 st century. Expansion of human activities into space has both direct and indirect effects on Earth including the atmosphere and near-space debris. This chapter places past, current, and future human activities in space in the broader context in which the scope of the “natural environment” must expand to encompass both Earth and beyond, and must include the full life cycle of space activities. Anthropogenic impacts are already extending beyond the Earth environment to other worlds. The provisions of the Outer Space Treaty will be increasingly tested as space activity expands. The current legal framework encompasses limiting biological contamination of other words and of Earth through sample return, but does not yet encompass other impacts. Current frameworks must evolve as humans and their machines venture further into space.