Thread by @ProfHughLewis

It could be argued that many of the approaches to ensure sustainability identified in this (otherwise excellent infographic) are actually focused on ensuring spaceflight safety & IMHO there are some fundamental omissions, most importantly to do with how we think about the future

https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1379744043630989312

It's also not really correct to place large constellations into the category of trends that pose challenges to long-term sustainability (even though most might disagree with me). If we do so, then surely we must place all past, present & future space systems into this category.

I'd also argue that diversity of space actors is a necessary feature of space sustainability, as defined by the UN: it is "the ability to maintain the conduct of space activities indefinitely into the future" realising the objectives of "equitable access to the benefits"

IMHO, space sustainability is about enabling long time behaviour, which "seeks to cultivate an attitude of care for the future, however near or far off it might be, so that we change our behaviour to take responsibility for it in the present." (see: @LongTimeProject)

Whilst supporting and complying with space debris mitigation guidelines is (vitally) important, I don't think it is quite the same as embracing & cultivating "an attitude of care for the future." We must have empathy for future generations & their goals to be able to say we care.

The goals of our grandchildren's children will not be the same as ours. In many ways, they are unknowable. Yet we can still have empathy, we can still care for their future, and we can still take responsibility for that in our present.