New European space legislation will establish common standards for assessing the environmental impact of space activities, with the aim of prolonging the lifetime of satellites and reducing the generation of in-orbit debris"
Currently, some 11,000 satellites are in orbit, and another 50,000 will be launched in the next decade, according to the Commission. At the same time, more than 128 million pieces of debris are circulating in space, ‘greatly increasing the risk of collisions,’ it warns.
The regulation will require space operators to carry out ‘comprehensive risk assessments throughout the life cycle of a satellite,’ particularly against the threats of cyberattacks and electronic interference. Such attacks can cause the loss of satellites or disrupt essential services. Operators will also be required to report incidents.
La legislación también establecerá normas comunes para evaluar el impacto medioambiental de las actividades Espaciales, sobre todo, en términos de producción de desechos y emisiones de CO2.
El objetivo es manejar “datos coherentes y verificados” para fomentar el mantenimiento, prolongar la vida útil de los satélites en órbita y reducir la cantidad de residuos.
