More than three decades after the height of the US Space Shuttle programme, space travel is once again making the news. Recent investment and initiatives by billionaires have highlighted the potential of ‘space tourism’ and commercial space flight. At the same time, the considerable carbon footprint of these journeys has shone a spotlight on the sustainability issues associated with travelling into space, whether for recreational, commercial, or scientific purposes.
The UK is committed to making the space industry more sustainable, working closely with its partners in the United Nations to ensure long-term space sustainability. Now, having recently become the first European country to introduce a framework for launching satellites and spacecraft from its home soil, the UK has a real opportunity to lead the space industry in a holistic effort to change the narrative around its environmental impact.
The space industry has a sustainability challenge. The...