Space Debris Sustainability: Understanding and Engaging Outer Space Environments

This chapter outlines the implications of the risk configurations when it comes to public participation as well as possible ways of shaping a societally inclusive way to address the challenge of space debris. It argues that space debris is increasingly understood as a sustainability challenge with orbital environments needing to be sustained and protected from further congestion. Space has become a place where sustainability is increasingly negotiated as an issue of security, as billions of people around the world rely on space systems to facilitate their daily life, from navigation to environmental services, from science to communication, crisis response, banking, and transport. Paying attention to security concerns as well as specific ecological status of outer space environments, the chapter outlines possible avenues to painting a better picture of space debris’ role in contemporary public and policy debates. Bringing to the table a perspective influenced by Science and Technology Studies, it highlights space debris to be bidirectional risk phenomenon.