NationStates Jolt Archive

RECOGNIZING that with the continued increase of space-faring nations on Earth and other planets, space debris will continue to accumulate in Low Planetary Orbit unless steps are taken now.

ACKNOWLEDGING the extreme potential for a Kessler Syndrome scenario, where the amount of space debris in Low Planetary Orbit is so high that objects in orbit are frequently struck by debris, thus creating more debris in a domino effect and adding to the risk of further impacts.

KNOWING that should such a scenario occur, the amount of debris in Low Planetary Orbit would render space exploration, and even the use of satellites, unfeasible for many generations.

HEREBY

DEFINES Low Planetary Orbit as an orbit 160 - 2,000 km (100 - 1,240 miles) above a given planet's surface.

DEFINES Graveyard Orbit as an orbit significantly above Low Planetary Orbit where spacecraft are intentionally placed at the end of their operational life.

MANDATES that designers of a new vehicle or satellite are required to demonstrate that it can be safely disposed of at the end of its life by use of a controlled atmospheric reentry system or a boost into a graveyard orbit.

CREATES the Space Vehicle Design Commission to oversee the production of said new vehicles or satellites to ensure they follow the new regulations.

STRONGLY ENCOURAGES any WA-member nations to begin decommissioning any weapons systems that have significant probability of inducing a Kessler Syndrome.

ALSO ENCOURAGES WA-member nations to fund research into technologies such as laser brooms that have shown potential to be used to reduce the amount of debris in Low Planetary Orbit.

RECOGNIZING that with the continued increase of space-faring nations on Earth, space debris will continue to accumulate in Low Earth Orbit unless steps are taken now.

ACKNOWLEDGING the extreme potential for a Kessler Syndrome scenario, where the amount of space debris in Low Earth Orbit is so high that objects in orbit are frequently struck by debris, thus creating more debris in a domino effect and adding to the risk of further impacts.

KNOWING that should such a scenario occur, the amount of debris in Low Earth Orbit would render space exploration, and even the use of satellites, unfeasible for many generations.

HEREBY

DEFINES Low Earth Orbit as an orbit 160 - 2,000 km (100 - 1,240 miles) above the Earth's surface.

DEFINES Graveyard Orbit as an orbit significantly above Low Earth Orbit where spacecraft are intentionally placed at the end of their operational life.

MANDATES that designers of a new vehicle or satellite are frequently required to demonstrate that it can be safely disposed of at the end of its life by use of a controlled atmospheric reentry system or a boost into a graveyard orbit.

CREATES the Space Vehicle Design Commission to oversee the production of said new vehicles or satellites to ensure they follow the new regulations.

STRONGLY ENCOURAGES any WA-member nations to begin decommissioning any weapons systems that have significant probability of inducing a Kessler Syndrome.

ALSO ENCOURAGES WA-member nations to fund research into technologies such as laser brooms that have shown potential to be used to reduce the amount of debris in Low Earth Orbit.

What's with all the space based proposals lately?

Okay, first, the Republic is not located on this 'Earth' that this proposal makes mention of.

Second, we resent any authority that can tell us what we can and cannot build.

Third, we have not had this 'graveyard orbit' around any of our planets for quite some time.

Fourth, we have absolutely no idea what this 'Kessler Syndrome' is. Is this something that your nation's scientists have come up with?

Fifth, the Republic will not, I repeat, will not disarm any of our weaponry in space. Almost all of our weaponry is designed for use in space.

Paula Jenner, Rutianas Ambassador

I suspect that the "Kessler Syndrome" you refer would constitute a RL reference and get your proposal deleted. Plus it's probably best if you actually say what it is instead of just talking about it so everyone knows what you're talking about.

I suspect that the "Kessler Syndrome" you refer would constitute a RL reference and get your proposal deleted. Plus it's probably best if you actually say what it is instead of just talking about it so everyone knows what you're talking about.

Kessler syndrome is just the common name for it, the same as "influenza". And I did go on to describe the syndrome, as well as the effects it has.

Okay, first, the Republic is not located on this 'Earth' that this proposal makes mention of.

Wonderful. Than this would apply to whatever planet you live on. This wasn't really written with FT nations in mind.

Second, we resent any authority that can tell us what we can and cannot build.

It does not tell you what to build, just something to add on to what you build.

Third, we have not had this 'graveyard orbit' around any of our planets for quite some time.

Every planet has a graveyard orbit. A graveyard orbit is just an orbit a far bit farther from LEO. Whether or not you utilize graveyard orbits is another matter entirely.

Fourth, we have absolutely no idea what this 'Kessler Syndrome' is. Is this something that your nation's scientists have come up with?

It quite clearly states what a Kessler Syndrome is and what effects are associated with it within the proposal.

Fifth, the Republic will not, I repeat, will not disarm any of our weaponry in space. Almost all of our weaponry is designed for use in space.

This proposal doesn't force you to do so. It just suggests that if you have a weapon that will likely cause a Kessler Syndrome, than you should get rid of it. You don't have to, but you should.

A lot of the questions you seem to have with the proposal revolve around the fact that you are FT, and this was written with a primarily MT focus. It appeared to me that most resolutions in the previous UN and the new WA were also written in this manner, and thus that this would not be a problem.

The funny part is only new members that have recently registered their account on Nation states are proposing space based proposals calling on banning and restricting the use of sattelites and space based defense systems in our earth orbit.

The funny part is only new members that have recently registered their account on Nation states are proposing space based proposals calling on banning and restricting the use of sattelites and space based defense systems in our earth orbit.

Yeah except this doesn't ban or restrict anything. It just makes you have a way to get rid of the trash when the satellite has finished it's purpose.

And oh yeah, I've been around here a good sight longer than you, I just created this account recently to be my WA puppet since I don't like having my main account in the WA.

Righteo. Carry on and goodluck with the proposal, i'll stay out of this since i am a temporally a former member of the WA in recent light of ridiciolous proposals going through and being put to vote and passed on as resolutions.

I think in general, this is a decent idea, and I would urge my fellow ambassadors not to put out that knee-jerk response with space-related resolutions since this one is quite salvagable.

Perhaps you could replace references to "Earth" with more general references to "planets", i.e. "Low Planetary Orbit", etc. Not all nations here are located on "Earth", as the ambassador from Rutianas points out, and at the same time, every planet is likely to have a similar problem. And then define "low planetary orbit" in more general terms, for better universal applicability.

Also, for this, drop the word "frequently". The syntax doesn't go and it risks creating a loophole, since "frequently" necessarily implies "not all the time".


MANDATES that designers of a new vehicle or satellite are frequently required to demonstrate that it can be safely disposed of at the end of its life by use of a controlled atmospheric reentry system or a boost into a graveyard orbit.

I think in general, this is a decent idea, and I would urge my fellow ambassadors not to put out that knee-jerk response with space-related resolutions since this one is quite salvagable.

Perhaps you could replace references to "Earth" with more general references to "planets", i.e. "Low Planetary Orbit", etc. Not all nations here are located on "Earth", as the ambassador from Rutianas points out, and at the same time, every planet is likely to have a similar problem. And then define "low planetary orbit" in more general terms, for better universal applicability.

Also, for this, drop the word "frequently". The syntax doesn't go and it risks creating a loophole, since "frequently" necessarily implies "not all the time".

Good ideas. Implemented.

OOC: I still question whether the "Kessler Syndrome" is a RL reference.

IC:

I think in general, this is a decent idea, and I would urge my fellow ambassadors not to put out that knee-jerk response with space-related resolutions since this one is quite salvagable.

The only way this would be salvageable is to remove all mention of 'vehicles' and 'weapon systems' from the proposal. Otherwise, all space faring nations would have to submit every design to this commission, which I might add, has no clear regulations to test these new designs (other than safe removal). What the hell is this commission looking at then? The Republic does not want our ship designs to be looked at by some commission.

Paula Jenner, Rutianas Ambassador

Kessler syndrome is just the common name for it, the same as "influenza". And I did go on to describe the syndrome, as well as the effects it has.

Apparently it's not as common as you think since this is the first time I've ever heard the term.

OOC: I still question whether the "Kessler Syndrome" is a RL reference.

I think that's more of a term, than anything, so to divorce the RL reference wouldn't be possible, similar to other terms like "Downs syndrome" or "Higgs boson". In this case, however, if adequately explained, the use of the term itself can be avoided, so there's another suggested amendment.

The only way this would be salvageable is to remove all mention of 'vehicles' and 'weapon systems' from the proposal. Otherwise, all space faring nations would have to submit every design to this commission,

From my reading, this only applies to things being placed in orbit around a planet, not to things actually moving about in outer space.

which I might add, has no clear regulations to test these new designs (other than safe removal). What the hell is this commission looking at then? The Republic does not want our ship designs to be looked at by some commission.

Well, care to elaborate what else should be implemented to achieve the goal of this proposal?

I think that's more of a term, than anything, so to divorce the RL reference wouldn't be possible, similar to other terms like "Downs syndrome" or "Higgs boson". In this case, however, if adequately explained, the use of the term itself can be avoided, so there's another suggested amendment.

Sounds like a good idea.



From my reading, this only applies to things being placed in orbit around a planet, not to things actually moving about in outer space.

Ordinarily, I would agree. However, nowhere in the proposal does it specifically mention that. If that is the intention, then it would be good for the author to clearly state that. At that point, I will withdraw my argument against the proposal.



Well, care to elaborate what else should be implemented to achieve the goal of this proposal?

Not really since I dislike any space based proposal. The Republic doesn't wish any regulations placed on us where space is concerned.

Paula Jenner, Rutianas Ambassador

I think a better idea here would be to mandate that nations operating in space try to make an effort to clean up their own debris, rather than mandating standard designs.