A set of international rules is needed to address the growing problem of space traffic, a US government official has said.
John Hill, deputy assistant secretary at the US Department of Defence, said space traffic was an international issue that required attention.
He was speaking to The National on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate, a conference addressing emerging trends in the geopolitics of space.
Companies such as SpaceX are launching mega constellations of satellites, leading to experts' concerns over a crowded Earth orbit.
“It's an important international and global issue,” said Mr Hill.
“One of the panels here at the Space Debate was on the very question of space sustainability, and how do you co-ordinate space traffic globally?
“There are no global rules there. So, it's really a question of the space operators.
“All of us who operate in space have the deep self-interest in ensuring that we develop best practices and those best practices become the norm so that all operators use them.”
Agreements such as the UN Outer Space Treaty and the US-led Artemis Accords currently promote peaceful and responsible use of space and its resources, but none address the issue of space traffic specifically.
Space overcrowded
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched more than 2,300 of its Starlink satellites into space, with many more to come.
The company has plans to operate about 30,000 of these satellites, aiming to provide global internet connectivity.
US regulators on Monday gave SpaceX the go-ahead to launch 7,500 more Starlinks.
UK company OneWeb also plans to launch a mega constellation that would make internet available in remote parts of the world.
China also announced proposals for a low-Earth orbit satellite internet constellation.
A crowded low-Earth orbit could increase the danger of collisions, especially for spacecraft that may encounter debris at higher altitudes.
On October 25, International Space Station thrusters were fired to avoid debris left behind by a satellite destroyed by a Russian anti-satellite test.
The test, which uses military-grade technology to destroy spacecraft, created thousands of fragments of debris.
The conference in Abu Dhabi also addressed the need for regulations as companies increasingly look to commercialise space.
Mr Hill said the US space policy, a document available online, focuses on private industry partnerships.
“It used to be that governments were the main player in space, and whether it was exploration or national security, that’s what drove the innovation and was most of the marketplace,” he said.
“Nowadays, it's much more driven by commercial.
“So, we're focused on creating regulatory environments that encourage that development, while also encouraging space sustainability, which is important to all space operators — civil, commercial and military operators.”
Nasa administrator Bill Nelson gave a video address at the event, in which he spoke about the rise of the private space industry in the US.
The space agency’s commercial crew programme has allowed it to launch astronauts from US soil again after relying on Russia’s Soyuz rocket for more than a decade.
It has teamed up with SpaceX to launch astronauts on the Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule.
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will be part of the SpaceX/Nasa Crew-6 mission, scheduled for early next year.
“This is an exciting time for commercial space and we look forward to Sultan’s mission," Mr Nelson said.
“And as we look beyond low-Earth orbit, it’s more important than ever to develop strong international co-operation and collaboration for civilian space exploration.”
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Test series fixtures
(All matches start at 2pm UAE)
1st Test Lord's, London from Thursday to Monday
2nd Test Nottingham from July 14-18
3rd Test The Oval, London from July 27-31
4th Test Manchester from August 4-8
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
