NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy emphasized the urgency and necessity of the initiative. "The release of this strategy marks true progress for NASA on space sustainability. Space is busy - and only getting busier. If we want to make sure that critical parts of space are preserved so that our children and grandchildren can continue to use them for the benefit of humanity, the time to act is now. NASA is making sure that we're aligning our resources to support sustainable activity for us and for all."
Historically, NASA has led in fostering responsible and sustainable space operations. The agency has contributed best practices, analytic tools, and technologies that have become standards among space operators worldwide. The new strategy enhances these efforts by promoting a unified agency-wide focus, which includes the appointment of a new director of space sustainability to oversee the coordination.
The strategy outlines NASA's commitment to maintaining leadership in space sustainability, promoting fair access to space, and ensuring that its operations contribute positively to sustainability. It also addresses the emerging challenges posed by increased commercial activity in space, including heightened satellite activity and the rise of autonomous spacecraft and commercial outposts, which have led to a more congested and debris-laden environment.
A cross-agency advisory board guided the development of this strategy, aiming to refine methods for assessing sustainability in Earth orbit, exploring cost-effective sustainability solutions, fostering sustainable technology and policy, and enhancing global communication about space sustainability.
NASA recognizes multiple operational domains-Earth, Earth orbit, cislunar space, and deep space-each presenting unique sustainability challenges. This first volume of the strategy focuses on Earth orbit, with subsequent volumes to address the remaining domains.
Related Links
Space Sustainability at NASA
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
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