Navigating Regulatory and Ethical Hurdles With HexSat: A Detachable Net Casting Spider-Inspired Space Debris Removal Concept

As the amount of space debris in orbit continues to increase, the need for methods of mitigating space debris becomes urgent. Drawing inspiration from nature, a net casting spider-inspired method of space debris removal has been proposed. This method, embodied in the HexSat design, features six separate wedges that can deploy to form a net for capturing debris. Once the target debris is captured, HexSat will intentionally reenter the atmosphere, where it will burn up. Any missions aimed at cleaning up space debris will face numerous challenges posed by international space regulations. To assess these challenges, a hypothetical scenario was constructed, envisioning NASA as the sole operator of a fully tested and operational HexSat. Compliance with both U.S. and international space exploration regulations was considered essential. Analysis revealed that Articles VI, VII, and VIII of the Outer Space Treaty present significant challenges due to their lack of detailed regulations. Long-term challenges include the need for new regulations and innovative designs to mitigate future space debris, such as the ongoing LignoSat satellite mission. Despite these obstacles, potential solutions are discussed and evaluated, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and proactive measures to ensure the sustainability of space exploration