Contributions of International Organizations to Addressing Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society

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Abstract

Astronomical research has always been an integral part of the study of our Universe, long before humans entered outer space. However, with the advent of active space activities, in particular the deployment of large and mega-constellations of satellites in low Earth orbit, access to dark and quiet skies has become threatened. In this regard, many international organizations have turned their attention to this problem to prevent the situation from worsening. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), as well as the UN, represented by the subsidiary body of the General Assembly - the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), are the most active in this regard. That is why this study is devoted to studying their initiatives for the legal assessment of the solutions they propose and identifying additional options that can be implemented in practice. To achieve the stated goal, general scientific (analysis, synthesis) and special legal methods were used: formal legal (study of documents of international organizations), comparative legal (comparison of approaches of the IAU, UN, IISL), historical legal (evolution of discussions, starting from 2007) and forecasting (justification of the need to develop a special legal regime). This topic has been comprehensively analyzed for the first time in the Russian science of international law. It has been revealed that the main initiator in discussing the issue of dark and quiet skies is the IAU. COPUOS began studying this topic in 2017 within the framework of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and has now approved a long-term action plan until 2029. IISL outlined its vision in 2023 in its final report and submitted a review of it to the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS in 2024. At the same time, the authors came to the conclusion that there is no direct goal to develop an international regime that takes into account the interests of all parties today. Also, issues related to the rights of indigenous peoples regarding access to the sky are not discussed in the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at the proper level. At the same time, the article emphasizes the important role of international organizations in solving the problem and substantiates the need to develop a special legal regime with an emphasis on human rights issues.

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