Post growth thinking is about applying limits to economic growth on behalf of all living beings, now and in future. Does it apply in space? We think of space as infinite and we’re not sure there is life out there, so why limit space growth? The problem is low orbit congestion, which creates hazards, but also interferes with space sounds and visibility.
The space industry recognises this but isn’t slowing down. Within a decade, SpaceX, OneWeb, GuoWang and Amazon will launch around 65,000 satellites, bringing low orbit objects to 100,000 satellites and 34,500 detectable and one million non-detectable items of debris. The ISS already has to manoeuvre to avoid collisions. Re-entering objects could hit aircraft, people or property. This requires space traffic management and debris remediation.
The Space Sustainability Rating project rates operations on some aspects and technological sustainability (green growth) solutions are being developed within the space industry, such as AI-based collision avoidance systems.
But these won’t stem impacts being experienced by others accessing space, such as the astronomy community. Background noise from satellites will eventually drown out faint cosmic sounds, and all satellites are fully detectable by astronomy telescopes, interfering with vision into space.
Space governance is not future-fit with respect to addressing unsustainable economic growth. The Outer Space Treaty was drafted in 1967, for instance. A number of initiatives are raising awareness. Dark and Quiet Skies is a topic on the UN agenda and there is a non-binding consensus on the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. Nevertheless, it assumes indefinite space activity and does not account for noise and visibility limits.
Post growth thinking seeks indefinite, fair access to outer space, inhibiting commercial domination that would be to the exclusion and harm of others.
Article is by Williams, Boley, Rotola and Green; Nature Sustainability journal; March 2024
