Governing the Global Space Commons

How to think of space sustainability? The multiple and significant benefits of space activities today come at a high cost, both in terms of their impact on sustainability on Earth, and the continued long-term usability of the space commons. Our analysis reveals that most space sustainability issues are generated and amplified by the same mechanisms causing non-sustainability on Earth, suggesting Earth-based governance models for commons could be adapted to space. Specifically, we adapt Elinor Ostrom’s framework for Governing the Commons, and seven of its eight principles are applicable to space activities. All of them require coordination in various configurations, ranging from regional to global.