Aerospace companies and experts are calling on governments around the world to adopt a ‘highway code’ to help tackle the increasing problem of space junk.

It is estimated there are more than 36,000 objects in space larger than 10cm, and 130million between 1mm and 1cm. All are moving at speeds of more than 10,000km an hour, which pose a risk to the safety of both crew in space and other satellites.

The Space Safety Coalition (SSC) has unveiled a landmark publication detailing what it regards best practice for all space operators as the number of launches and spacecraft increases exponentially.

These include prioritising sustainable practices during satellite launches – such as reusable launch vehicles – developing propulsion systems that prevent gases being released into the atmosphere and a ‘highway code’-style guidebook for manoeuvring spacecraft to avoid collisions.

Last month, an international team of experts called for a legally-binding treaty to tackle the growing issue of space junk.

Writing in the journal Science, they said there is an urgent need for global consensus on how best to govern Earth’s orbit to avoid the mistakes seen in the world’s oceans, where human activities have caused catastrophic damage to marine species.

So far there are 60 signatories to the Space Safety Coalition, including satellite communication service Inmarsat.

Inmarsat CEO Rajeev Suri said: ‘Initiatives like the Space Safety Coalition are an important step towards establishing international best practices and guidelines to protect the space environment, but it is not enough. 

‘The clock is ticking, and real action is needed. National regulators everywhere should now use their powers of granting market access to require that satellite operators adhere to best practices like those outlined by the Space Safety Coalition and beyond.’

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