Regime internacional aplicável a pequenos satélites de baixa complexidade : propostas para salvaguardar atores espaciais e mitigar impactos ambientais no espaço exterior

Abstract

Since the beginning of the space age, but especially recently, the possibility of accessing space has encouraged the development of smaller, lighter devices equipped with more usual, cheaper technologies. The OSCAR satellites series, since 1961, and the intensification of cubesats launches since 2000 illustrate this. Technically, these satellites pose a very great risk to large artifacts, as they are many, increasingly numerous, almost or totally uncontrollable or unobservable, and sometimes cast into orbits where they will remain for many years. The scenario is a challenge to the technical and legal spheres. In the 1st, measures are needed to mitigate the environmental and other impacts caused by such objects. In the 2nd, new regulations are necessary to offer specific treatment and confer legal certainty to the States and protection to the space environment. Thus, this thesis presents proposals applicable to Small Satellites of Low Complexity (PSBCs, acronym of the Portuguese language) to safeguard space actors and mitigate environmental impacts in outer space. To serve this purpose, it: 1) reviews the literature and related legislation, especially International Environmental Law, Space Law, Orbital Mechanics, Risk Theory; 2) adopts the complexity characterization proposed by Bearden to conceptualize PSBCs; 3) adopts the Risk Theory, IPCC, US Supreme Court, and FAA terminologie to propose a semi-quantitative classification of PSBCs by words, colors, and levels; 4) search, tabulate and characterize the OSCAR series to illustrate 1-3 and as case study; and 5) classifies some of its most characteristic satellites by the risk/criticality levels of its environmental impacts in outer space. Such items suggest that such proposals are applicable to PSBCs and aim at safeguarding space actors and mitigating environmental impacts in outer space.