For the first several decades of human space activity, the economically and militarily valuable region of near-Earth orbit seemed like an infinite resource. But in the 21st century, the rapid increase in countries, companies and even private individuals active in space has made us realize how finite this region actually is, raising risks of collisions and conflict. In short, the space community today faces a “collective action” problem—too many people using a shared resource without adequate and enforceable rules. Will safe access to near-Earth space be put into jeopardy?
Fortunately, recent national actions (China’s 2007 anti-satellite test) and accidents (the 2009 Iridium-Cosmos crash) have heightened awareness of certain emerging threats and spurred international cooperation. Countries, companies and the public are collaborating as never before. Space also is transparent, making it an ideal candidate for community-based mitigations of commercial, military and civil risks. But more needs to be done—and soon.
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