ABSTRACT
In recent years, a growing number of spacefaring nations and commercial companies has launched objects into orbit. Simultaneously, there has been an increase of space debris in orbit around the Earth. As a result, the risk of interference between objects in space is growing. Article IX of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty requires that States maintain cooperation, mutual
assistance, and due regard to the interests of others in outer space.1 Moreover, States are required to undertake consultations in case of potential interference.2 Significant growth in the volume of near-Earth outer space traffic implies that the principles embodied in this provision of the Treaty have become more essential than ever. At present, the International Telecommunication Union is the only international organi-
zation performing any kind of “space traffic management” (STM). However, the ITU currently lacks legal authority to regulate several aspects of a space traffic management system. Of increasing importance is a global space situational awareness coordination system, which would provide timely information to operators to avoid collisions in orbit. There are proposals for establishing some universal “rules of the road,” and even for
establishing a system of STM, to protect the long-term sustainability of space activities. Establishing a global STM system, however, poses significant challenges, and its implementation would require international consensus based on the perceived benefits of all space actors.
