The Case for an International On-Orbit Servicing Regulatory Framework

Clifford Hall, Room 210

On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) of spacecraft to perform upgrades, life extensions, or disposal is on the cusp of commercial viability. Due to the proximity required for these operations, and the increased risk for accidents safety regulations are critical to preservation of the space environment as a global commons. As assessed through archival research, the current international space treaty regime and national licensing methods do not provide adequate levels of mission assurance. Critical gaps will be identified in this paper that restricts the commercial growth of OOS, and recommendations are made to create a new treaty and international regulatory authority to address these concerns. The proposed actions include resolving issues of ownership, liability, responsibility, and anxiety over the dual-use nature of OOS technology that could be used for space warfare. The planned organization is a blended model of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) and International Committee on Global Positioning Systems (ICG) with representative membership and explicitly defined authorities to adequately promote and regulate OOS activities. It performs critical oversight functions to deal with the aforementioned issues, and without these binding standards the commercial viability of OOS will suffer. Under these conditions the organization ensures the sustainable and responsible use of space to proactively prevent incidents that threaten its utility and mutual benefit to mankind.