We Need to Clear Up Space Debris to Make Way for the Small Satellite Boom

CubeSats and other small-sized satellites promise to democratise space and open up the final frontier. But there's one big thing in their way—or rather hundreds of thousands of small things: space debris. And before we go launching more future-junk into space, we need to figure out what to do about it.

Lesley Jane Smith, a visiting professor of space law at the University of Strathclyde and a member of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law, explained some of the regulatory issues facing the small satellite revolution in a talk at London Space Week.

"Everything that's involved in space is dangerous and hazardous," she told Motherboard in an interview. "But the CubeSats, because of the particular orbit that they're going into—that is the orbit that has the greatest amount of debris already."

CubeSats are small satellites made of parts measuring around 10 cm cubed and weighing less than 1.33 kg. They're cheaper to build and launch than conventional satellites, offering the chance for more organisations (aside from nation states) to get into the satellite game. They boast a compelling array of potential applications, from telecommunications to Earth observation.

CubeSats and other small satellites are generally launched into lower Earth orbit (LEO) because of latency issues higher up. But that means there are a lot of satellites all wanting a share of the same space—especially as the full potential of CubeSats lies in constellations of tens or even hundreds of the things.

Not only are these satellites trying to access an area already crowded with junk; they will create a lot of new space debris after their limited lifetime is up. And anyone who's seen Gravity knows how damaging that debris can be.

The diagram below from a UK Space Agency presentation shows the predicted probability of a collision in lower Earth orbit in 2070 compared to in 2001, though Smith suggested the 2070 prediction could come much earlier.

As a result, Smith said that "the entire issue of debris has been brought to a head by the CubeSats."

That's why, if the small satellite industry is going to be sustainable, regulations regarding space debris mitigation need to be discussed pronto.

The problem is, it seems mighty unjust to impose regulations on small satellites given the amount of junk that bigger players already dumped in the same orbital territory.

Smith reckons a state-backed programme such as the European Space Agency (ESA) should therefore lead the way and put up the money to clean up space before anything too bad happens—or before commercial companies are put off the satellite industry due to the looming risk and cost.

ESA is responsible for a particularly large piece of space junk in the form of its defunct Envisat satellite.

"If you want to be a team leader, then my feeling is that an agency like ESA should get involved, and bring down its own satellite, Envisat, to show that it can be done," said Smith. "Of course it's dangerous, but it will set a precedent that it can be done and states are responsible, liable, for their own satellites."

ESA has already started testing techniques to catch space debris such as using a giant high-tech fishing net. Another option would be commercial space debris salvage operations, where companies could collect space trash for a fee—but international space law doesn't allow for that at the moment, and changing it would require a fair amount of thought. "There's complicated issues if they remove a functioning satellite instead of a dysfunctional satellite—there are legal issues out there," said Smith, stressing the need for global understanding and consent.

One of the main regulatory issues for CubeSats is that most current rules don't recognise them as any different from other satellites, whether on the issue of debris and de-orbiting or other legal hurdles such as licensing and insurance. There is an argument that exceptions should be made, given smaller satellites' promise both to open up space and provide services to more people; Smith recognised that the technology has "fantastic potential."

"In a way we're talking about a transformative phase," she said in her talk.

Regulation was necessary, she explained, in order for the UK and other countries to keep their place in the current, evolving space industry.

And when it comes down to it, Smith pointed out, the industry and its regulatory system has never really been tested. "If two satellites collide, and they're functional, somebody's going to do something," she said.