Space Sustainability in the Context of Contested Space

The last decade has seen dramatic changes in the scope and scale of space operations. The combination of congested space operations and the potential for contested space scenarios has increased the importance and difficulty of maintaining a sustainable space operating environment. Given the complexity of the challenge, policymakers should act now to help ensure a sustainable orbital environment over the long term. Read on to learn more about solutions such as improved debris mitigation measures to manage the effects of the ever-growing operational satellite population, and efforts like the U.S. moratorium on direct ascent ASAT testing to limit the impacts of contested space. Learn why, if left unmanaged, the combination of congested and contested space has the potential to make operating in parts of Earth orbit very difficult. 

Authors: Marlon Sorge and Greg Henning

This paper was published in Space Agenda 2025, an effort by the Center for Space Policy and Strategy (CSPS) at The Aerospace Corporation to highlight and provide insights into some of the major space challenges facing policymakers. You can read the entire list of Space Agenda 2025 papers here.