论空间碎片的法律定义及其与空间物体的关联性

On the Legal Definition of Space Debris and Its Interrelation with Space Object

“空间碎片”的定义问题一直是国际航天工程科技界和国际空间法界力图解决的问题，在空间碎片全球治理的背景下，更是各利益攸关方需要达成共同理解的现实问题。由于“空间碎片”概念具有技术、物理、政治和法律等方面的属性，从法律上定义“空间碎片”概念是一个十分复杂的问题，尤其在涉及需要高级技术和概念发展的空间碎片主动移除的语境下，又与国际空间法上的用语“空间物体”概念产生密切关联性。同时，对“空间碎片”的法律定义达成共识是各国接受和赞同空间碎片全球治理国际法律制度的前提条件之一，“空间碎片”的法律定义之于国际空间法界与同其科技定义之于国际航天工程科技界同样重要。本论文对“空间碎片”法律定义问题及其与空间物体的关联性问题的观点是，“空间碎片”的现行科技定义和政策定义尽管存在模糊空间，但据此可见“空间碎片”的法律定义雏形。国际社会和国家定义“空间碎片”的实践表明，对“空间碎片”定义的核心要素的认识倾同一致。这种共同认识可以成为“空间碎片”法律定义的基础。鉴于空间碎片和空间物体的密切关联性，国际空间法确定的空间物体的法律地位可以类推适用于空间碎片法律地位的确定，以解决空间碎片的管辖权和控制权问题。

How to define space debris （SD） is the problem which both the international space scientific and technical community （ISSTC） and the international space law community （ISLC） have been attempting to deal with, and it is also the actual problem which needs all the stakeholders to achieve a common understanding against the background of global space debris governance （GSDG）. In view that the concept ＂SD＂ has technical, physical, political and legal attributes, it is very complicated to legally define the concept, particu- larly in the context of active debris removal （ADR） which involves high-technology and conceptual development and makes SD closely in- terrelated with the concept ＂space object （SB）＂ under the international space law. Meanwhile, to achieve a generally-recognized legal definition of SD is one of prerequisites for each State to accept and approve the potential international legal framework of GSDG. There- fore, a SD legal definition is as important to ISLC as its scientific and technical definition to ISSTC. The problem of legally defining SD and the problem of how it is closely interrelated with SB are discussed in this paper. And it is firstly concluded that the embryonic form of a SD legal definition can be based on the current SD scientific-technical or policy definitions, ambiguous though they are. The practice in defining SD by the international community and States shows that the unanimity has seemed to be reached in recognizing the core ele- ments included in the present SD definitions. The common understanding as such can become the basis of a SD legal definition. It is sec- ondly concluded that, in view of the close interrelation between SD and SB, the legal status of SB established by the current international space law can be applied by analogy to establish that of SD so as to deal with the problem of the jurisdiction and control of SD.