Cascading Crises: Orbital Debris and the Widening of Space Security

Bowen, Bleddyn E.

Abstract

The term space security is often used, but seldom analyzed. This isa significant gap in the literature of space politics, as it posits considerable implications for debates on how to deal with a runaway growth in the space debris population, and how we argue for or against space weaponization. Securitizing all threats in space may lead to greater difficulties in enacting debris removal measures, as these systems are inherently dual-use. A case is made for keeping space security in its traditional connotations of national security so that environmental issues related to orbital debris can be resolved with reduced security concerns in a space development framing.

Citation

Bowen, B. E. (2014). Cascading Crises: Orbital Debris and the Widening of Space Security. Astropolitics, 12(1), 46-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/14777622.2014.890489

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Mar 3, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 19, 2025
• Journal: Astropolitics
• Print ISSN: 1477-7622
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-2943
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 46-68
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14777622.2014.890489
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3357355