Space Debris from the Perspective of Sustainable Development

This article analyses the issue of extension of the concept of sustainable development to the domain of outer space. It focuses on integration of environmental values into the anthropocentric system of space law in order to address current problems induced by proliferation of space debris threatening long-term sustainability of space. The paper argues that in the light of sustainable development States have to ensure safe and sustainable use of outer space in the long-term. The article highlights that the concept of sustainable development is quite well tailored to the domain of outer space, and its adoption would resemble a natural evolution of the existing legal system rather than a revolutionary change. Furthermore it argues that introduction of values carried by sustainable development could be a solution for some systemic problems of space law, especially its part applicable to the protection of space against space debris.