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Debris objects - mostly debris - in low Earth orbit (LEO) - view over the equator
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Space Debris - Resources

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In brief

You can find a variety of historical resources, technical documents and legal articles on the topic of space debris below. To inquire about updated versions of the documents or add anything to the list, please contact ecsl@esa.int with your comments.

In-depth

Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) documents

Support to the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (2004)
IADC WG4

Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) space debris mitigation guidelines (2002, as revised in 2007)
IADC-02-01, Revision 1

Inter-Agencies Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) Terms of Reference (1993, as updated in 2009)
IADC-06-09

Other documents

Report of the International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris: “Towards Long-term Sustainability of Space Activities: Overcoming the Challenges of Space Debris” (2011)
UN A/AC.105/C.1/2011/CRP.149

ISO Space debris mitigation requirements (2010)
ISO 24113:2010

NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris (2009)
NPR 8715.6A

Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (2008)

NASA Handbook for Limiting Orbital Debris (2008)
NASA-HDBK-8719.14

NASA Technical Standard: Process for Limiting Orbital Debris (2007, with Change 4 of 2009)
NASA-STD-8719.14

US Congressional Research Service, Report for Congress: “China Anti-satellite Weapon Test” (2007)

Minutes from IAA Commission V Meeting
Bremen, Germany, September 2003.

International Academy of Astronautics Position Paper on Space Debris Mitigation: “Implementing Zero Debris Creations Zones” (final issue approved for publication)
IAA, 2005.

ESA Space Debris Mitigation Handbook (2000, as updated in 2002)
ESA Contract 14471/00/D/HK

European Space Debris Safety and Mitigation Standard, Issue 1, Revision 0 (2000)

U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (2000)

“Technical Report on Space Debris: Text of the report adopted by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space”
United Nations, New York, 1999.
UN A/AC.105/720

CNES Standards Collection, Method and Procedure Space Debris – Safety Requirements (1999)
RNC-CNES-Q-40-512

NASDA Space Debris Mitigation Standard (1996) (Japan)
NASDA-STD-18

U.S. National Science and Technology Council: Interagency Report on Space Debris (1995)

International Law Association (ILA) Draft International Instrument on the Protection of the Environment from Damage Caused by Space Debris
ILA Conference, Buenos Aires, 1994

“Space Debris: A Report of the ESA Space Debris Working Group”
ESA, 1988.

Environmental Effects of Space Activities
UN A/AC. 105/358

Workshops and conferences

Fifth European Conference on Space Debris
ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 30 March-2 April 2009

Fourth European Conference on Space Debris
ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 18-20 April 2005

Third European Conference on Space Debris
ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 19-21 March 2001

ECSL/UK NPOC Workshop: “The impact of space debris on the private commercial operators”
Inmarsat, London, UK, 9 November 2001

Proceedings

Second European Conference on Space Debris
ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 17-19 March 1997

First European Conference on Space Debris
ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 5-7 April 1993

Books

“Proceedings of the Fourth European Conference on Space Debris, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 18-20 April 2005”
ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2005.

“Proceedings of the Third European Conference on Space Debris, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 19-21 March 2001”
ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2001.

“Proceeding of the Second European Conference on Space Debris, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 17-19 March 1997”
ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 1997.

“Proceedings of the First European Conference on Space Debris, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 5-7 April 1993”
ESA, Paris, 1993.

H. A. BAKER
“Space Debris: Legal and Policy Implications”
Martinus Nijhoff Publ., 1989.

V. S. MANI, S. BHATT, V. BALKISTA REDDY
“Recent Trends in International Space Law and Policy”
Lancers Books, New Delhi, 1997.

J. N. PELTON, R. S. JAKHU
“Space Safety Regulations and Standards”
Elsevier, 2010

The New Space Age : Legal and Policy Perspectives (uni-nke.hu)

The New Space Age: Legal and Policy Perspectives (2024)

Bartóki-Gönczy Balázs (ed.); Sulyok Gábor (ed.)

Articles

F. ALBY (et al.)
“The European Space Debris Safety and Mitigation Standard”
Advances in Space Research, Vol. 34, Issue 5, pp. 1260-1263.

K. N. ARDHANAREESWARAN
“Space Debris: Problems and Perspectives”
In V. S. MANI, S. BHATT, V. BALKISTA REDDY, “Recent Trends in
International Space Law and Policy”, Lancers Books, New Delhi, 1997.

I. ATNEY-YURDIN
“Space Debris Legal Research Guide”
Pace Yearbook of International Law, Vol. 3, 1991, p. 167.

H. A. BAKER
“Liability for Damage Caused in Outer Space by Space Refuse”
Annals of Air and Space Law, Vol. XIII, 1988, p. 183.

M. BENKÖ
“The Problem of Space Debris: A Valid Case against the Use of Aggressive Military Systems in Outer Space”
In M. BENKÖ, K.-U. SCHROGL (eds.), “Essential Air and Space Law 2 - Space Law: Current Problems and Perspectives for Future Regulation”, Eleven International Publishing, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2005, p. 155.

M. BENKÖ, K.-U. SCHROGL
“The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Adoption of the Resolution on Enhancing Registration Practice and of the UNCOPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines”
ZLW, Year 2008, Issue 3.

C. Q. CHRISTOL
“Scientific and Legal Aspects of Space Debris”
In “Proceedings of the Thirty-Sixth Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 1993”.

L. L. CRAVERO
“Contaminación espacial: La problemática de los desechos Eepaciales”
Revista Nacional de Derecho Aeronáutico y Espacial, N. 7, 2010.

I. H. DIEDERIKS-VERSCHOOR
“Space Debris in Focus at Darmstadt Lessons Form the Prevention of Air Accidents”
Journal of space law, Vol. 25, Issue 1, 1997, p. 45.

H. DIM DOO
“Some considerations of the liability of the compensation for damages caused by space debris”
Law/technology, Vol. 28, Issue 4, 1995, p. 1.

F. von der DUNK
“Ruimtepuin en ruimterecht” (Space Debris and Space Law)
Justitiële Verkenningen, Vol. 5, 2007, pp. 85-94.

F. von der DUNK
“Space Debris and the Law”
In “Proceedings of the Third European Conference on Space Debris”, 2001, pp. 863-8.

J. M. de FARAMIÑÀN GILBERT
“Space Debris: Technical and Legal Aspects”
In G. LAFFERRANDERIE, D. CROWTHER (eds.), “Outlook on Space Law Over the Next 30 Years: Essays Published for the 30th Anniversary of the Outer Space Treaty”, Kluwer Law International, 1997, pp. 305-318.

S. GOROVE
“Pollution and Outer Space: A Legal Analysis and Appraisal”
New York University Journal of International Law and Politics, Vol. 5, 1972, p. 53. M. GRIFFITHS
“Space Debris”
Postnote, UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, March 2010, N. 355.

S. HOBE, R. S. JAKHU
“Report on the International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris”
Air and Space Law, Vol. 35, Issue 4-5, 2010, pp. 333-336.

S. HOBE, J. H. MEY
“UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines”
ZLW, Year 2009, Issue 3.

D. HOPE
“Commercial Systems Due Diligence in the Application of Standards and Procedures Designed to Avoid the Creation of Orbital Debris in GEO”
In J. N. PELTON, R. M. JAKHU, “Space Safety Regulations and Standards”
Elsevier, 2010, Chapter 10, pp. 123-132.

R. S. JAKHU
“Space Debris in the Geostationary Orbit: A Matter of Concern for the ITU”
In “Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 1991”.

N. JASENTULIYANA
“Space Debris and International Law”
In F. LYALL, P. B. LARSEN (eds.), “Space law”, Ashgate, 2007.

N. JASENTULIYANA
“Space Debris and International Law”

In V. S. MANI, S. BHATT, V. BALKISTA REDDY, “Recent Trends in
International Space Law and Policy”, Lancers Books, New Delhi, 1997.

A. KATO
“Comparison of National Space Debris Mitigation Standards”
Advances in Space Research, Vol. 28, Issue 9, 2001, pp. 1447-1456.

A. KERREST
“Les législations nationales et le contrôle de la création des débris spatiaux ”
In “Colloque de l'Académie Nationale de l'Air et de l'Espace: L’Europe et les débris spatiaux, Toulouse, novembre 2002”, Académie Nationale de l'Air et de l'Espace, 2003.

D. H. KIM
“Legal Problems Concerning Space Debris and Liability Convention”
In “Proceedings of the Fifty-Second Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 2009”, p. 210.

J. LAMPERTIUS
“The Need for an Effective Liability Regime for Damage Caused by Debris in Outer Space”
Michigan Journal of International Law, Vol. 13, Issue 2, 1992, p. 447.

T. L. MASSON-ZWAAN
“Space Law and the Satellite Collision of 10 February 2009”
COSPAR Information Bulletin, Vol. 174, 2009, pp. 4-11.

M. MEJIA-KAISER
“Informal Regulations and Practices in the Field of Space Debris Mitigation”
Air and Space Law, Vol. 34, Issue 1, 2009, pp. 21-34.

S. A. MIRMINA
“The Regulation of Orbital Debris through National Measures”
Air and Space Law, Vol. 29, Issue 2, 2004, pp. 137-146.

J. NIE
“Regulation of Space Debris: On the Way towards International Customer Law?”
In “Proceedings of the Fifty-Second Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 2009”, p. 53.

S. NOREEN
“Space Debris and the United Nations”
Journal of space law, Vol. 18, Issue 2, 1990, p. 175.

A.M. ORESHENKOV
"Theoretical basis of international legal aspect of “space debris” removal"
Moscow Journal of International Law 2024 No. 2. P. 46-64
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24833/0869-0049-2024-2-46-64

L. PEREK
“Current Status of Mitigation Measures on Space Debris”
ECSL Newsletter, N. 32, 2006, p. 2.

M. Y. S. PRASAD
“Technical and Legal Issues Surrounding Space Debris: India's Position in the UN”
Space Policy, Vol. 21, Issue 4, 2005, pp. 243-249.

N. PUSEY
“The Case for Preserving Nothing: The Need for a Global Response to the Space Debris Problem”
Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy, Vol. 21, Issue 2, 2010, pp. 425-450.

L. D. ROBERTS
“Addressing the Problem of Orbital Space Debris: Combining International Regulatory and Liability Regimes”
Boston College International and Comparative Law Review, Vol.15, 1992, p. 51.

K.-U. SCHROGL
“Second European Conference on Space Debris”
Space Policy, Vol. 13, Issue 3, 1997, p. 265.

H.T. SCOTT
“Mitigating the Danger of Space Debris by Enforcing and Developing Already Existing Space Law”
Annals of Air and Space Law, Vol. XXXIV, 2009.

J. M. SEYMOUR
“Containing the Cosmic Crisis: A Proposal for Curbing the Perils of Space Debris”
Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Vol. 10, 1998, p. 891.

M. W. TAYLOR
“Trashing the Solar System One Planet at a Time: Earth’s Orbital Debris Problem”
The Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Vol. 20, N. 1, 2007, pp. 1-59.

M. W. TAYLOR
“Orbital Debris: Technical and Legal Issues and Solutions”
Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 2006.

A. D. TEREKHOV
“Space Debris and the United Nations: A Possible Modus Procedendi”
In “Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 1994”, p. 281.

P. UHLIR
“Orbital Debris: Technical, Economic and Legal Aspects”
In “Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 1992”.

L. M. VELÁSQUEZ LÉON
“Los desechos aeronáuticos y espaciales en el marco del Protocolo de Kyoto”
Revista Nacional de Derecho Aeronáutico y Espacial, N. 7, 2010.

B. WEEDEN
“Overview of the Legal and Policy Challenges of Orbital Debris Removal”
Space Policy, Vol. 27, Issue 1, 2011, pp. 38-43.

N. D. WELLY
““Enlightened State-Interest: A Legal Framework for Protecting the “Common Interest of All Mankind” from Hardinian Tragedy”
Journal of Space Law, Vol. 36, N. 1, 2010.

R. A. WILLIAMSON, R. OBERMANN
“New Challenges in International Orbital Debris Policy”
In “Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 1994”.

W. B. WIRIN
“Space Debris and Space Objects”
In “Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 1991”.

H. ZHAO
“The Progress of the Regulation-Making Concerning Space Debris Mitigation in China”
In “Proceedings of the Fifty-Third Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, 2010” (IAC-10.E7.5.12).

Other useful readings

N, JOHNSON, D. MCKNIGHT
“Artificial Space Debris”
Orbit Book Company, 1987.

H. KLINKRAD
“Space Debris: Models and Risk Analysis”
Springer Praxis, 2004.

S. KULIK
“The Russian Federation Space Plan 2006-2015 and Activities in Space Debris Problems”
In D. DANESY (ed.), “Proceedings of the 4th European Conference on Space Debris, 18-20 April 2005”, ESA SP-587, ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 2005, p.11.

C. PORTELLI, F. ALBY, R. CROWTHER, U. WIRT
“Space Debris Mitigation in France, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom”
Advances in Space Research, Vol. 45, Issue 8, 2010.

N. N. SMIRNOV
“Space Debris”
CRS Press, 2001.

M. S. SOROOS
“The Endangered Atmosphere: Preserving a Global Commons”
University of South Carolina Press, 1997.

Useful links

ESA Space Debris Office

ESA Space Environment website

ESA Space Situational Awareness website

Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC)

International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS)

International Space Safety Foundation (ISSF)

NASA Orbital Debris Program Office

NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly News

Secure World Foundation

UNOOSA List of Reported Space Objects Discovered by Member States within their Territories

UNOOSA National research on space debris and nuclear power sources website