ITU Radio Regulations and Space Security Standards ITU-Space-Debris-Mitigation-IADC-Guidelines-UNCOPUOS-LTS-25Year-Rule-EOL-Disposal-Registration-Convention: ITU + IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines + UNCOPUOS Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) Guidelines + 25-Year Rule + End-of-Life Disposal + Registration Convention + Outer Space Treaty + Space Traffic Coordination

Space sustainability + debris mitigation are governed by multiple international instruments coordinated through ITU + UNCOPUOS + IADC + national regulators. (1) Outer Space Treaty 1967 (Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space): (a) Article I - exploration and use shall be for benefit of all countries; (b) Article II - outer space is not subject to national appropriation; (c) Article VI - States bear international responsibility for national activities in outer space whether carried on by governmental or non-governmental entities + authorize and continuously supervise non-governmental entities; (d) Article VII - State liable for damage caused by its space objects (further developed by Liability Convention 1972); (e) Article VIII - State of registry retains jurisdiction and control over the space object + personnel; (f) Article IX - States to conduct activities with due regard to corresponding interests of other States + avoid harmful contamination. 113 ratifying States including all spacefaring nations. (2) Registration Convention 1975 (Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space): (a) launching States must register space objects + maintain a national registry; (b) furnish information to UN Secretary-General including (i) name + registration number; (ii) launch state and territory; (iii) launch date; (iv) basic orbital parameters (nodal period + inclination + apogee + perigee); (v) general function of space object; (c) UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) maintains the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space (over 16,000 objects registered as of 2026). (3) Liability Convention 1972 (Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects): (a) absolute liability for damage caused on Earth surface or to aircraft in flight; (b) fault liability for damage caused in outer space; (c) only one major claim invoked (Cosmos 954 Canadian incident 1978 - USSR paid CAD 3M); (d) supplements Outer Space Treaty Article VII. (4) IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee 2002 Rev 2007 Rev 2020): (a) limit debris released during normal operations; (b) minimize potential for break-ups during operational phases; (c) limit probability of accidental collision in orbit; (d) avoid intentional destruction and other harmful activities; (e) minimize potential for post-mission break-ups resulting from stored energy; (f) limit long-term presence of spacecraft and launch vehicle orbital stages in LEO region after end of mission; (g) limit long-term interference with GEO region after end of mission. The 25-YEAR RULE: spacecraft and launch vehicle orbital stages designed for end of mission in LEO should be removed from orbit within 25 years after end of mission (now being revised to 5 years - see (7) below). (5) UNCOPUOS Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) Guidelines 2019: 21 Guidelines including (A) Policy and regulatory framework; (B) Safety of space operations + including A.1 international legal framework + A.2 national regulatory framework + A.3 capacity-building; (C) International cooperation + capacity-building + outreach + including B.1-B.10; (D) Scientific and technical research + development + including C.1-C.4. Sustainability principles cover space debris remediation + ASATs + dual-use + commercial activities + Active Debris Removal (ADR). (6) ISO Standards for Space Sustainability: (a) ISO 24113:2019 Space systems - Space debris mitigation requirements (most widely adopted); (b) ISO 23339:2010 Space systems - Unmanned spacecraft operating in or crossing LEO - Estimation of remaining fuel; (c) ISO 16164:2015 Space systems - Disposal of satellites operating in low Earth orbit; (d) ISO 26872:2019 Space systems - Disposal of satellites operating at GEO; (e) ISO 27852:2016 Space systems - Estimation of orbit lifetime. (7) FCC 5-Year Rule (2022): FCC adopted Order requiring US-licensed LEO satellites to deorbit within 5 years after end of mission (effective 29 September 2024) - significantly tighter than IADC 25-year + EU also moving toward 5-year. (8) End-of-Life Disposal Strategies: (a) LEO satellites - controlled re-entry + uncontrolled re-entry + ballistic coefficient + ADR Active Debris Removal; (b) GEO satellites - graveyard orbit per IADC ~235 km above GEO + minimum 235 km Delta-h reservation; (c) Post-Mission Disposal (PMD) probability >90% per IADC; (d) Active Debris Removal (ADR) operators (Astroscale + ClearSpace + ESA ClearSpace-1 mission 2026 + Mitsubishi Heavy + NorthStar Earth and Space). (9) Space Traffic Coordination / Management (STC/STM): (a) US Space Force 18 SDS (formerly 18 SPCS at Vandenberg) provides conjunction warnings via Space-Track.org; (b) commercial SSA providers (LeoLabs + ExoAnalytic Solutions + Slingshot Aerospace + NorthStar + others); (c) ESA Space Safety Programme + EU SST EU Space Surveillance and Tracking; (d) International Astronomical Union (IAU) Centre for Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies; (e) emerging commercial + national STM regulations (US Office of Space Commerce TraCSS + EU Space Law 2024 + Japan + UK Space Sustainability Plan). (10) ITU + Space Sustainability Coordination: (a) WRC-23 Resolution 731 (Rev.WRC-23) - studies on use of NGSO + space-based VLBI + RNSS + RAS; (b) WRC-23 Resolution 35 (Rev.WRC-23) - NGSO milestones; (c) WRC-27 Agenda Item 1.10 - sustainability + dark and quiet skies; (d) Resolution ITU-R 32 - Centre for Spectrum Management; (e) ITU-R RA.2259 protection radio astronomy. (11) Active Debris Removal (ADR) + In-Orbit Servicing (IOS): (a) emerging commercial market; (b) ESA ClearSpace-1 first ADR demonstration mission planned 2026-2027; (c) Astroscale Elsa-d demonstration + Astroscale-Japan Active Debris Removal; (d) Northrop Grumman MEV Mission Extension Vehicle; (e) ESA HERA + JAXA CRD2 in-orbit servicing demonstrations. Coordinates with UNOOSA UN Office for Outer Space Affairs + UNCOPUOS Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space + UN COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee STSC + UN COPUOS Legal Subcommittee LSC + IADC + ISO TC20/SC14 Space Systems + NASA + ESA + JAXA + ISRO + CNSA + KARI + UKSA + DLR + CNES + Roscosmos + national space agencies + commercial operators + AIAA + Space Foundation + Secure World Foundation + International Astronautical Federation (IAF). ITU + IADC + UNCOPUOS + Registration Convention + Outer Space Treaty Space Sustainability apply.