Challenges for ensuring the security, safety and sustainability of outer space activities

Abstract The 50th anniversary of the first human landing on the moon presents an opportune moment to reflect on the security, safety and sustainability challenges that humankind will have to confront as we expand the sphere of human economic, political and social activity beyond low Earth orbit over the next 50 years. Three overarching challenges are identified: the challenge of governance; the challenge of information sharing; and the challenge of maintaining strategic stability in the military uses of outer space in order to preserve outer space for peaceful use and exploration.