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Canada and space sustainability

Over the last decades, sustainable development initiatives have multiplied on Earth. Did you know that a similar movement is currently taking root in space?

Space sustainability takes into account the impact of human activities on space. It aims to develop measures to ensure that space remains usable and that future generations have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the wonders of space.

Canada is actively involved in many such initiatives, and collaborates with other spacefaring nations on norms and guidelines to foster space sustainability.

Canada's involvement in space sustainability

  • Canada becomes an early member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. This Committee was established to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all humanity.

    Now with 102 members, it remains the only UN committee dealing exclusively with international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.

  • Canada is one of the first signatories of the Outer Space Treaty, which set out basic principles for the peaceful and sustainable exploration and use of space.

    More recently, Canada has played an important role in developing the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, which cover safety of space operations; international cooperation, capacity-building and awareness; and scientific and technical research and development.

  • Canada takes part in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, which helps find ways to reduce space debris by working with other countries.

    Since our involvement, Canadian regulations have been adapted to help Canada contribute to the sustainability of space by requiring that newly proposed satellites have disposal plans for the end of their mission.

  • Canada plays a key role in negotiating the UN COPUOS Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, which propose measures to promote a safe and sustainable space environment.

  • Canada signs the Artemis Accords, joining other States committed to conducting deep-space exploration missions in a safe, sustainable and transparent manner and in full compliance with the Outer Space Treaty and United Nations Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.

  • The Government of Canada starts its review of Canada's regulatory framework for space-related activities, as outlined in Exploration, Imagination, Innovation: A New Space Strategy for Canada. As part of this review, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) undertakes a public consultation. In the What We Heard Report from the consultation, participants urged the Government to consider sustainability at all stages of the space mission life cycle, from design to end-of-life, including requirements to mitigate space debris and avoid uncontrolled re-entry of objects from space.

Space debris

Space debris is a key issue for space sustainability. It includes all human-made objects in space that no longer serve any useful purpose.

The CSA takes the issue of space debris very seriously. Old satellites, rocket parts, fragments from previous collisions, and other objects floating around in space create a hazard to active satellites and structures hosting humans in space.

As seen in the above timeline, international guidelines and standards have been in place for a number of years to limit space debris. Countries, including Canada, use them to guide the development and implementation of national requirements. Currently, licences for in-space activities issued to Canadian entities under the Radiocommunication Act (administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) and the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act (administered by Global Affairs Canada) to make sure operators have a plan to help prevent the creation of space debris during a spacecraft's operations and at the end of its life.

With data from NEOSSat and Sapphire, Canada is contributing to the international efforts to track and monitor space objects, including space debris, which helps keep the space environment safe and sustainable for present and future generations.

The CSA has developed a service called Conjunction Risk Assessment and Mitigation System (CRAMS) to help manage space debris by assessing collision risks with other objects and computing avoidance manoeuvres when appropriate. CRAMS provides important data that allows satellite operators to quickly react to possible danger. The service is also shared with many satellite operators worldwide.

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