The collision in space of a Russian and a US satellite was perhaps an accident waiting to happen. Around 6,000 satellites have been sent into orbit since 1957 and although they are in different orbits, it’s getting busy up there.
Tuesday’s crash—the first ever between two large space objects—was between an operational Iridium satellite and a defunct Russian military ‘Cosmos’. The Iridium satellite is one of a constellation launched for mobile phone services.
Neither satellite is believed to be insured. But according to David Wade, Atrium Space Insurance Consortium, the accident raises some important questions over liability and the possible threat posed by debris to other satellites.
“For a time, this will pose an increased risk of debris strike for satellites in similar [low earth] orbits, which includes some of the earth observation satellites that are insured,” he says.
There could be a case for calling into action the UN’s Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects. In practice, because the Cosmos satellite is not thought to have been operational, it’s unlikely that there will be any liability.
Also it would be difficult to prove whether the Iridium satellite crashed into Cosmos or the other way around, Wade says.
Another complicating factor under the Liability convention is that the Launch State is ultimately held responsible (or in the case where the satellite operator and launch state are different, they are jointly and severally liable).
“In the case of the Iridium satellites it is a US based operator, but the satellites were launched on US Delta vehicles, Russian Proton’s and Chinese Long March’s. If the Liability Convention were to be triggered the particular Iridium satellite, and which launch vehicle it was launched on, also needs to be identified”, Wade says.
US Strategic Command has identified about 600 pieces of debris generated by the collision. The larger pieces of debris that pose a real threat will be tracked and monitored by the agency.
US Strategic Command tracks around 18,000 items of space junk that are 3.9 inches across or bigger.
Links
Russian and US satellites collide, BBC news, 12 February 2009
David Wade heads up Atrium Space Insurance Consortium
For images see NASA orbital debris program office
Tags: Space
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