Abstract:

Since long-term sustainability of outer space activities is an extension concept of sustainable development in the field of outer space law, there are not only some connections but also a few differences between them. According to the juridical status of the principle of sustainable development, the principle of long-term sustainability of outer space activities should be an important principle in the law of outer space, and contains the following aspects: inter-generation fair; within-generation fair; long-term sustainable use, integration between environment and activities in the outer space. In the case of the existing outer environment worsening, emphasizing and practicing principle of long-term sustainability of outer space activities has important practical significance.Now the challenges related to the long-term sustainability of outer space activities include the issues of space debris; the increasing decrease in geostationary orbit resources; space pollution. The international community is working on the guidelines of the long-term sustainability of outer space activity guidelines which plays a key role in solving the above problems. More importantly, the principle of long-term sustainability of outer space activities should be put into the Outer Space Treaty or developed to be a generally accepted rule of customary international law so that it can play the role of legal norms.

Key words: long-term sustainability of outer space activities, space debris, geostationary orbit, space pollution, Outer Space Treaty, Customary International Law