The rapid development of the space technology of the last 20 years has been of great benefit to mankind. In many areas such as communications, navigation, remote sensing, meteorology, and scientific studies, the production activities and the way of human life has entered a new stage. As more and more vehicles have been delivered into outer space, the population of space debris created by spent rocket stages or deactivated satellites that continue to orbit is a situation that is of increasing concern to many international communities and governments. The protection of the space environment has become an important problem which needs to be seriously treated in the development of space technology.

PROTECTION OF THE OUTER SPACE ENVIRONMENT – A PROBLEM OF EVER GREATER SIGNIFICANCE

The Outer Space Treaty approved by the United Nations in 1966 points out: “The progress in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes are related to the common benefits of whole mankind, ” therefore, protecting the outer space environment will be advantageous to the space activities for mankind, while a seriously polluted outer space environment will have a harmful effect on the exploration and use of outer space. From a long-term point of view, it would be useful for future exploration of outer space and could produce twice the results with half the effort if people would seriously consider methods or measures for protecting outer space as early as possible.