Bracing for the Impending Rocket Revolution: How to Regulate International Environmental Harm Caused by Commercial Space Flight
I. Introduction The new commercial space market offers the world unprecedented access to space but may also herald unprecedented dangers to the upper atmosphere that could hasten climate change. The launching of satellites, scientific research payloads, and people into space is transitioning from a purely governmental enterprise to an increasingly private industry that receives government contracts.[2] The private sector is assuming the role that governments once held in space activities, particularly in the United States. For instance, private companies including Lockheed Martin[3] and SpaceX[4] have Continue reading →