Orbiting Toward an International Space Debris Regime

This webinar will discuss the present and future of space debris law and will present an overview of:

• The History of Space Debris
• Review the international guidelines
• Compare rules from space-faring nations
• With a deep dive into the US FCC rules

In the 1990s, space debris began to attract more than passing attention due to environmental concerns and human risk.  At the minimum, it can potentially destroy an operational mission costing tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars damage.  Far worse, it creates a significant risk for loss of life in any crewed spacecraft.  This led to guidelines from both UNOOSA and the IADC and in turn, nations began implementing rules to mitigate space debris.  For the first time in more than a decade, the United States recently proposed and announced revised rules to mitigate space debris.  While some of these will soon become effective, others remain subject to a comment period on information collection burdens posed by the new rules ending September 11, 2020.  

Presented by

Charles Mudd, Principal, Mudd Law, United States
Charles Mudd Jr. is the principal of Mudd Law and represents companies in the Internet and space sectors.  Since 2017, he has substantive contributed to the development of space policy including attendance and participation at United Nations space law conferences.  This year, he testified in Washington, D.C., collaborated with the IDA in filing a regulatory comment, submitted a letter to the UNEP, and participated in SATCON1 on issues related to satellites and dark skies.  In 2020, he became elected to the International Institute of Space Law.  He also serves as a board member of ITechLaw and NewSpace Chicago.