Legally binding global treaty needed to tackle space debris, say experts

Scientists call for collective effort to protect Earth's orbit from dangers posed by space junk

Satellite makers and operators must be held responsible for the growing hazard of space debris, according to experts who say a legally binding global treaty must be thrashed out to protect the orbital environment.

With the number of satellites rising dramatically, the agreement would make manufacturers and users responsible for de-orbiting defunct hardware and cleaning up any debris created when orbiting objects slam into one another.