Read the following passage carefully:
The exponential growth of commercial satellite constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has transformed outer space into a vital engine of global telecommunications and Earth observation. However, this proliferation has dramatically increased the density of orbital debris, threatening the long-term sustainability of space activities. Current international space law, anchored primarily by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, relies on voluntary post-mission disposal guidelines and national self-regulation, which lack binding enforcement mechanisms or standardized global debris mitigation protocols. While private space actors frequently advocate for self-policing and technological remediation—such as active debris removal satellites—these technological fixes address symptoms rather than the systemic market failure known as the 'tragedy of the outer space commons.' Without binding international regulatory frameworks that internalize the ecological externalities of satellite launches through orbital shell fee structures or strict debris-budget allocations, technological innovation alone will prove insufficient. Remediation technologies may even induce a moral hazard, encouraging satellite operators to accelerate launch frequencies under the assumption that future debris will be cleaned up. True space sustainability requires transitioning from reactive technological management to proactive, binding global governance that treats Low Earth Orbit as a finite, shared natural resource requiring collective stewardship.
Based on the passage provided, which of the following statements best expresses the central theme intended by the author?
- Ensuring the long-term sustainability of Low Earth Orbit requires establishing binding international regulatory governance to manage space as a shared resource, rather than relying primarily on voluntary guidelines and technological remediation.Answer
- BThe 1967 Outer Space Treaty has successfully prevented commercial space expansion from causing environmental damage through its strict and standardized global enforcement protocols.
- CCommercial satellite constellations must be completely prohibited because private space ventures inevitably generate catastrophic economic losses for global telecommunications.
- DActive debris removal technologies are fundamentally flawed tools that actively destroy the outer space economy by creating artificial moral hazards.