With more space objects being launched than ever before, the amount of space debris is steadily growing and with it the risk to essential services that support our everyday lives.
Overnight, the Australian Space Agency reinforced its commitment to the safety and sustainability of the space environment. It has joined the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) — a special group of space agencies that coordinate activities and research related to space debris.
IADC is a global governmental forum that focuses on topics ranging from developing new approaches to shield spacecraft from debris impacts to forecasting the evolution of space debris environment.
The UK Space Agency is the IADC's current Chair, and they announced that the Agency has become the Committee's newest Associate Member.
Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo said, “Space is critical to our way of life, so protecting the assets we rely on every day is a global challenge that requires a global effort.”
“The Australian Space Agency is proud to join the IADC and work with our domestic sector to contribute research and debris mitigation strategies. This work upholds international norms that protect the orbital environment for future generations.”
Leading the sustainable use of space
Along with the Agency, the Agencia Espacial Española (Spanish Space Agency) also joined the Committee.
Andrew Ratcliffe, Chief Engineer at the UK Space Agency and the current Chair of the IADC welcomed the two nations, who join the New Zealand Space Agency as an Associate Member.
"The growth of the Committee is testament to its importance in the international community, both in understanding the evolution of the space debris environment and developing approaches that can be adopted by operators and regulators to mitigate their impact," Mr Ratcliffe said.
"International collaboration and technically informed decision-making are critical to achieving a safe and sustainable space environment
One of the key achievements of the Committee was the development of the IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, which has informed the regulatory approach across the globe on how to mitigate the human impact on the space environment.
Listed below (in alphabetical order) are the 13 Member Space Agencies of the IADC:
- Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space Agency)
- Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (French Space Agency)
- China National Space Administration
- Canadian Space Agency
- DLR (German Space Agency)
- European Space Agency
- Indian Space Research Organisation
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- Korea Aerospace Research Institute
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- State Space Agency of Ukraine
- State Space Corporation
- UK Space Agency
Responsibility and regulations
Australia is dedicated to being a responsible global citizen, ensuring safe and secure operations both in space and on Earth.
Main image credit: The European Space Agency
