International Legal Regime Governing the Protection of the Outer Space Environment: Approaches, Challenges and Gaps

International law on outer space environment is a part of international space law that has been taken into consideration in the context of international community with the growth of governments’ and private sectors’ activities in exploration and exploitation of recourses in space. In this study, we will seek to answer the question initially that what kind of connection there is between the current international space law principles and space environment protection? Then, what approach in international community governs the space environment? And finally, what are the challenges and gaps existing in so-called area? The conclusion of this study is that one can try to preserve the environmental outer space despite the lack of an international unified system in outer space environmental protection by developing the current international space law principles, on the one hand and by using the sustainable security-centered approach on the other hand.