Sustainable Planet

A Space Race to Unsustainability

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Most people might not consider blaming space pollution for disruptions in our daily lives. But the exponential increase in satellites and debris in the Lower Earth’s Orbit is more than just science fiction. From heads of government concerned with national security to gamers losing valuable seconds in an online competition, space pollution is a growing concern. Jorden and Kimberly discuss why space junk, virtually in our own backyard, deserves higher priority on our sustainability radar.

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:

  • How space junk could wreak havoc on more than just arrival time
  • Why the Tragedy of the Commons extends to outer space
  • Who’s responsible for emptying the space garbage can
  • Why the Kessler syndrome is just as scary as the name implies
  • How ridiculously rich people’s rocket launches incur yet another cost externality
  • How space exploration contributes to climate change
  • Why Global South countries bear the brunt of space activities

    • Recommended Resources

    • For anyone wanting to refresh their memory, here’s The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin, 1968
    • And here’s the rebuttal Jorden mentioned, The Comedy of the Commons by Carol Rose, 1987
    • What to do with all that space junk floating around LEO
    • Why The Kessler Syndrome isn’t just a sci-fi plot
    • Kimberly’s newsletter post on Substack
      • ...more
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      Sustainable PlanetBy Kimberly Weir