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21 Colo. J. Int'l Envtl. L. & Pol'y 425 (2010)
The Case for Preserving Nothing: The Need for a Global Response to the Space Debris Problem

handle is hein.journals/colenvlp21 and id is 429 raw text is: The Case for Preserving Nothing: The Need for a Global Response to the Space Debris Problem Natalie Pusey* ABSTRACT Since the dawn of the Space Age, Earth orbit has become a highly utilized environment. The heavy traffic of man-made satellites has led to a large quantity of debris in orbit that detracts from the value that Earth orbit provides mankind. Several technical solutions exist or have been proposed to alleviate the space debris problem, but in order to preserve the orbital environment, these technical solutions need to work in conjunction with a legal regime that regulates the creation and remediation of space debris. Various laws, regulations, and guidelines address space debris at different levels of government, but currently, there is no strong international law, which serves this purpose. This Note proposes an international treaty that would make spacecraft operators liable for debris-caused damage to property, and that would require reasonable debris-mitigation measures to be taken for every mission. I. INTRODUCTION Earth orbit is a unique, limited, and incredibly valuable resource. The properties of this space allow humans to utilize thousands of satellites for research, national defense, and communications. Like so many of Earth's delicate regions, Earth orbit has been greatly altered by human activity. For a variety of reasons, human exploration and the commercialization of space create litter, or debris, that pollutes Earth orbit. Some debris occurs naturally, but of the 19,000 pieces of trackable * Natalie Pusey is a 2010 Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Colorado Law School. She greatly appreciates the invaluable edits and comments made by the editorial staff of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy. She also thanks her many loved ones who have been incredibly supportive throughout law school.

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