Space debris indeed poses long-term threats to space activities and Earth's environment. But sustainability should have a wider focus than the pollution of Earth's orbital space.provides key recommendations for expanding our view on the sustainable use of space—and this could reveal unforeseen risks and opportunities for businesses, governments, communities and Indigenous peoples.
Nowhere in New Zealand's aerospace strategy or policy documents is sustainability actually clarified. What is included, what is excluded, and whose concept of sustainability are we operating with? Aotearoa New Zealand's founding documents outline the co-existence of two distinct authorities—Māori, represented by hapū and the British Crown. While the national space policy is committed to recognizing and reflecting Māori interests in the space sector, it is not clear how these interests will translate into a genuine partnership approach to decision making.