Space Debris

In News

• Recently, the debris from the last stage of China’s Long March 5B rocket fell into the waters of the Pacific and the Indian oceans. 

More about the news:

• As the 22-tonne core stage of the rocket hurtled uncontrollably back to earth.
• Issues:
  • Generally, the core or first stage of a rocket is made up of heavy pieces that usually don’t reach orbit after liftoff, and fall back safely along a near-precise projected trajectory.
  • Most nations’ rockets separate the launcher from the payload before leaving the atmosphere. 
  • An extra engine then gives the payload a final boost. 
• China’s case:
  • China’s 5B series does not use a second engine and pushes right into orbit, the report points out.

International events & agreements on space junk

• The Space Liability Convention of 1972:
  • It defines responsibility in case a space object causes harm. 
  • The treaty says that “a launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the earth or to aircraft, and liable for damage due to its faults in space. 
  • The Convention also provides for procedures for the settlement of claims for damages.”
    • The only settlement using the Liability Convention was between the erstwhile Soviet Union and Canada over the debris of Soviet Cosmos 954 falling in a barren region.
• Absence of law:
  • However, there is no law against space junk crashing back to earth.
  • Should the debris hit something or, worse, someone, people affected will be liable for compensation. 
  • But otherwise, there are no international rules to prevent or restrict uncontrolled re-entries. 
• Recent incidents:
  • In April this year, suspected debris from a Chinese rocket was found in two Maharashtra villages.

Way Forward

• Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximize transparency regarding those operations.
• It is critical that all spacefaring nations and commercial entities act responsibly and transparently in space to ensure the safety, stability, security and long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
• The problem of managing space debris is an international challenge & a law should be framed by an international agency against space junk crashing back to earth.

Source: TH