3RD Annual Manfred
Lachs Conference
Montreal, Quebec
ICAO Headquarters
March 16&17, 2015
Space Debris Removal as a
First Step to Realizing a
Legal Framework for Space
Traffic Management
Mr. Yu Takeuchi, JAXA, Japan
Ms. Lauren Small-Pennefather, Canada
Towards a Comprehensive
STM System
 Current
environment is not sustainable
 “Congested, contested and competed”
 More State and non-State actors amplify
to add a fourth C-CHAOTIC to the triple C
threat!
 How do we define the rules of the road?
 How do we engage?
Number of Objects in Earth
Orbit by Object Type
(courtesy of Secure World Foundation, Space
Sustainability: A Practical Guide 2014)
This chart displays a summary of all
objects equal to or larger than 10 cm in
Earth orbit.
The Equation…
 22,000
 1,100
objects in orbit+
active satellites+
 Exceeding
speeds of 18,000 per hour
around the earth
= SPACE
DEBRIS
The Space Treaties
(courtesy of Secure World Foundation,
Space Sustainability: A Practical Guide
2014)
Soft Law-A Model For Success
 Promotes
the safe and secure use of outer
space and underpins the principles of the
OST
 Supplements an antiquated system
 No single legal rule/obligation to regulate
objects in outer space
 Encourages bilateral collaboration
 Increases collective State practice
The First Steps….
 New
international trends start with
bilateral agreements



Relinquishment of rights
Sharing liability in case of damage
Removal is achieved under mutual
recognition and consent
The Next Steps….
 Bold
decisions of state actors
 Policy/regulatory/political/technical/orga
nizational
 Setting new standards
 Unified collective approach to space
debris removal
 Uphold the spirit of the intent of the OST
Thank you for your time!
Questions???
takeuchi.yu@jaxa.jp
lauren.small@asc-csa.gc.ca