Outer space has become increasingly ‘congested, contested and competitive’, and the proliferation of satellites, especially in low-earth orbit, now presents new challenges for the space industry in Scotland and beyond.
This report is the result of a workshop held on June 4 and 5 at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, which brought together policy makers, universities and industry to discuss Space Environmentalism and Sustainability in Scotland.
Scotland is at the forefront of the UK’s space sustainability efforts. Within the UK, Scotland has a unique strength, particularly through the convening role of Space Scotland’s Environmental Task Force and its charting of a Sustainability Roadmap. Scotland’s experience in environmental preservation, in the protection of marine ecosystems, in scientific innovation and cultural awareness, can inform long-term space sustainability policy choices. This report examines four pressing issues related to Space Environmentalism and Sustainability in Scotland: space congestion, the protection of Dark Skies, Scotland’s launch capabilities, and Earth-Space Sustainability.
Download the pdf version of the report