Research On International Law Of Environmental Protection In Outer Space

With the rapid increase of the population of the earth and the increasing scarcity of the Earth's resources,the human beings full of wisdom have set their eyes on the exploitation of the resources to outer space.With the development of mineral resources in outer space,the deployment of the International Space Station and even tourism projects in full swing,the exploration and utilization of outer space has gradually become a testing ground for national space technology.At a time when mankind is actively exploiting the rich resources of outer space,it is little known that the availability of orbital resources is at risk owing to the large number of space objects entering outer space in a short period of time.The space debris produced by the collision of a large number of space objects is an important source of threats to the security of outer space.As outer space is more than 370 km from the Earth,nuclear power sources are the only option to propel space objects into outer space.If they are not carefully examined and evaluated,they will cause serious security risks to outer space and the earth.After clarifying the legal status of outer space,combined with the existing definitions of space debris based on different characteristics and the commonness of space objects in the world,and considering the "non-functional","man-made" and "location" characteristics that space debris needs to possess,the author abstracts theconcept of space debris as "man-made objects without functionality in outer space".In order to solve the problem of the rapid growth of space debris,we should first determine its jurisdiction and control right.The author identified the jurisdiction and control subject of space debris from the aspects of strengthening registration behavior and regulating different types of launching countries.Because of the dilemma that it can form customary international law to decide to remove space debris actively,this paper will discuss the feasibility of removing space debris voluntarily according to the principles of "national consent","crisis","critical situation" and international environmental law.One of the most concerned cases in the field of space environmental pollution is the case of damage caused by the fall of the Soviet cosmos 954 satellite into Canada.This case established the scope and mode of compensation for the damage caused by space debris.Limited by the limitations of solar energy and chemical energy in deep space exploration,the use of nuclear power sources in outer space may be the best energy source.The huge energy generated by fusion of nuclear power sources can promote aircraft to enter outer space,which cannot be banned by the international community in fact.On the basis of the existing international laws and documents on the regulation of nuclear power sources,all countries should improve the standards of nuclear safety and improve the legal system of nuclear accident emergency.All countries are actively developing space science and technology and committed to the exploration and utilization of outer space,but in fact,the liability mechanism and compensation mechanism for environmental damage in outer space are not perfect.Due to the particularity of outer space environmental problems,the amount of space debris is huge and it is difficult to trace the subject of responsibility,so it is very difficult to claim for environmental damage.The possible environmental damage caused by space debris is also difficult to assess the consequences of the damage.The scope of damage in the existing space treaty law system only involves the damage to the right to life and property,which is extremely detrimental to the environmental protection of outer space.As a responsible Aerospace country actively exploring outer space,Chinashould pay more attention to the issues related to the environmental protection of outer space when the international space station is about to be built,whether it is the possible damage to our space objects caused by foreign countries in the future or the unfortunate pollution to the territory of other countries.However,compared with China's international status,China's space legislation system is extremely imperfect,especially in the space basic law and related supporting technical standards of the document reserve.Starting from the construction of a basic law of outer space environmental protection,gradually improving the regulation of space debris and nuclear power sources,and coordinating the competent departments in charge of outer space activities in this process are the paths that can be practiced in the future.