Protection of the Natural Space Environment: A Fresh Outlook

A 2003 study on the protection of the natural environment of space by Mark Williamson begins with a thoughtful and certainly not implausible introduction to the topic, which reads:
“The construction of the International Space Station in low Earth orbit and the formulation of plans to search for life on Mars indicate that mankind is intent on making the space environment part of its domain. Publicity surrounding space tourism, in-space ‘burials’ and the sale of lunar ‘real estate’ suggests that, some time in the 21st century, the space environment will become an extension of our current terrestrial business and domestic environment.”
The aforementioned activities in outer space do not seem to be fantastical and futuristic possibilities nowadays. The scale and significance of the human impact on the environment of outer space in recent years is unprecedented and is progressively increasing…