Direito internacional e detritos espaciais: prejuízos do acúmulo de detritos espaciais e a responsabilidade internacional do Estado-lançador

Abstract

The research developed to write this monograph aims to point out the international responsibility of the launching State with regard to damage caused by disused space objects, the so-called Space Debris. Considering the increasing number of debris in low Earth Orbit, which mostly come from explosions and collisions between space objects, the risk of Debris hitting a space object in use is a real and constant danger. Due to the mentioned risk, millions of dollars are spent maneuvering satellites to prevent debris from hitting them and damaging them or rendering these objects useless for their missions. Taking as a focal point the International Responsibility of the launching State for its Space Debris, the work developed was divided into 3 chapters arranged as it follows: chapter 1 aims to present the concepts relating to Space Debris, also presenting Kessler's Theory, a theory developed by NASA researchers who project a prediction for the increase in the number of objects in orbit. In turn, chapter 2 seeks to present the International Responsibility of the State, presenting its constituent elements and other aspects. Finally, the third and final chapter lists the nuances and characteristics of the State's International Responsibility for damage caused by Space Debris identified as belonging to the State. During the development of this research, it is possible to observe the difficulty in legally managing Space Debris, since there is no legislation that binds the responsibility of the launching State in relation to the debris which this subject generates. Furthermore, as a suggestion for future approaches, it focuses on the development of incentive projects at an international level to reduce the production of space debris and the effective accountability of countries when certain Debris under their responsibility causes harm to others.