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https://theconversation.com/sustainability-is-often-an-afterthought-in-space-exploration-that-needs-to-change-as-the-industry-grows-211335>
"Aotearoa New Zealand is the latest country to enter the expanding and
competitive international space market.
In the aerospace strategy and national space policy, the government lays out
how it intends to grow the domestic space sector by launching rockets and
satellites and promoting Earth observation research.
The documents indicate the government’s general priorities in “protecting New
Zealand’s national interests” and the “responsible use of space”.
Sustainability is a focus in both strategy and policy but is used
interchangeably in three different contexts:
* To “sustain” the economic development of the industry
* to describe the benefits of aerospace technology for sustainability efforts,
like monitoring climate change
* to describe the environmental impacts of aerospace activities, largely
focused on space debris, while reducing emissions (though the latter is largely
a concern for the aviation industry, not space).
When a part from India’s recent rocket launch landed on Australian shores last
month, it captured people’s attention – and delivered a reminder that Earth’s
orbits are teeming with the discards of human endeavours in space.
Space debris indeed poses long-term threats to space activities and Earth’s
environment. But sustainability should have a wider focus than the pollution of
Earth’s orbital space.
Our new research provides key recommendations for expanding our view on the
sustainable use of space – and this could reveal unforeseen risks and
opportunities for businesses, governments, communities and Indigenous peoples."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
