Ahmed Hany M. Abuelenin, a researcher from the Supply Chain Management and Maritime Business Department at King Abdulaziz University, has proposed an intriguing idea: what if we could apply maritime enforcement strategies to manage the growing problem of orbital debris? His paper, published in ‘Discover Space’ (which translates to ‘Explore Space’), suggests a novel approach to space governance that might just hit the mark.
So, what’s the deal with orbital debris? Well, it’s essentially space junk—discarded satellites, spent rocket stages, and other human-made objects that are cluttering up Earth’s orbit. This debris poses a significant risk to operational spacecraft and could potentially disrupt satellite services we rely on daily, from GPS navigation to weather forecasting. Currently, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 provides a legal framework for space activities, but it lacks robust enforcement mechanisms to tackle the debris issue.
Enter Port State Control (PSC), a maritime enforcement mechanism that allows coastal states to inspect foreign-flagged vessels calling at their ports to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations. Abuelenin’s paper explores the feasibility of adapting this concept to space, proposing a “Spaceport State Control” (SpSC) system. Under this model, launch and re-entry facilities could condition access on compliance with international sustainability standards, effectively incentivizing responsible behavior.
“The structural parallels between maritime and space commons are striking,” Abuelenin notes. “Both are global commons, and both face significant governance challenges. By adapting proven maritime enforcement mechanisms, we can strengthen the legal architecture of orbital sustainability.”
So, what does this mean for the maritime sector? For one, it presents an opportunity to leverage existing expertise in maritime enforcement and governance to address a pressing issue in space. Maritime professionals could find new avenues for collaboration and innovation, working alongside space agencies and private companies to develop and implement SpSC systems.
Moreover, the commercial impacts could be substantial. Satellite services are a multi-billion-dollar industry, and orbital debris poses a significant risk to these assets. By mitigating this risk, SpSC could help ensure the long-term sustainability of these services, benefiting both providers and end-users.
Abuelenin’s paper also highlights the potential for multilateral coordination and precautionary regulatory tools, which could foster international cooperation and drive technological advancements in both maritime and space sectors.
In essence, Abuelenin’s work offers a fresh perspective on orbital debris governance, drawing on the maritime sector’s rich history of international cooperation and enforcement. By adapting PSC mechanisms to the space domain, we might just find a way to keep our orbits as clean and orderly as our seas. As Abuelenin puts it, “Cross-domain regulatory innovation could be the key to unlocking a sustainable future for both maritime and space commons.”