ABSTRACT
Space presents a variety of environmental problems to which law must respond.1 Not all will be treated in this chapter. Radio matters are covered in more detail in Chapter 8. The environment of the Moon and other celestial bodies is largely dealt with in Chapter 7 as is the detail of the Moon Agreement itself on contamination by its exploration. Here, moving from ‘in’ to ‘out there’ we cover generalities of space law before turning to the possibility of the contamination of the Earth from space, the polluting results of space activities (broadly the debris problem), and the protection of the Earth from asteroids, meteors and comets (planetary defence). However, we must begin with some general observations.
