Researchers call for regulations to protect low Earth orbit environment
BOULDER, Colorado - Researchers are calling for increased attention and better protection against the rising introduction of exotic materials into Earth's atmosphere from satellite and space hardware re-entry, especially in an era of megaconstellations.
At the 2026 European Geosciences Union held May 3-8 in Vienna, Austria, panelists raised questions about the atmospheric impacts of spacecraft launches and re-entries, along with research and policy priorities to promote environmental sustainability for space. The subject is also expected to be explored again at a National Academies gathering in July.
"This is a topic of increasing importance and concern for researchers working to understand the potential impact of a formidable space industry in the absence of regulation needed to prevent harm," said session organizer Eloise Marais, a professor of atmospheric chemistry and air quality within the Department of Geography at University College London in the United Kingdom.
Sign up for First Up: Get the latest updates on SpaceX, Artemis, NASA and more. From Jeff Foust, First Up is a recap of the day's space industry news, including civil, commercial, and military space developments.
By submitting this form, you agree to the SpaceNews privacy policy and terms and conditions and to receive email from us and our partners. You can opt-out at any time.
The conference included several research projects focused on determining the atmospheric impacts of space launch and reentry. Among the presentations and research directions reviewed were:
One concern for researchers is they feel they don't have a strong understanding of what spacecraft materials are in use, making it difficult to determine whether and the degree to which they may be harming the Earth's atmosphere. Daniel Baker, Director of the Colorado Space Policy Center here at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a participant in the Vienna discussions, said that commercial companies are not keen on divulging what they utilize to fabricate spacecraft as they believe it's a highly competitive matter. There's also worry about having that information replicated by China or others, he said.
Jack Burns, associate director of the Colorado Space Policy Center, said that a lack of international regulations to curb debris growth and sustain the space environment creates ambiguities.
"Countries seem empowered to do whatever they want to do. Who is going to control and regulate in this international environment that we have evolved into?" Burns told SpaceNews.
"There is no guarantee that other players, rogue players, non-government players may cut corners and create bigger problems," Baker said.
"This is a worldwide problem, not a national problem," said Baker.
Thank you for reading the article! Follow us at Google News.
