Circular space systems key to long-term sustainability of global digital infrastructure
Original framing: “From frontier to feedback loop: Expert explains why space must become circular” — Phys.org
Scientific evidence shows that space debris and the unsustainable use of orbital resources pose significant risks to future space missions. Circular models, supported by materials science and orbital mechanics, can reduce these risks and improve the longevity of space infrastructure.
The transition to circular space systems is not just a technical challenge but a systemic reorientation of how we conceptualize space development.
Drawing on Indigenous stewardship models, historical lessons from industrialization, and cross-cultural ecological wisdom, we can move beyond the frontier narrative toward a more sustainable and inclusive approach. Scientific innovation must be paired with ethical governance and equitable access to ensure that space remains a shared resource for all humanity. Future modelling suggests that without this systemic shift, the environmental and geopolitical risks of space development will escalate, undermining the long-term viability of the global digital infrastructure that depends on it.