(4) NASA AUTHORIZATION ACT (P.L. 101-611;November 16,
1991)
SEC. 118. SPACE DEBRIS.
(a)
Findings.—The
Congress finds that—
(1)
if space users fail to act soon to reduce
their contribution to debris in space, orbital debris could severely restrict
the use of some orbits within a decade;
(2)
the lack of adequate data on the orbital
distribution and size of debris will continue to hamper efforts to reduce the
threat that debris poses to spacecraft; and
(3)
existing international treaties and
agreements are inadequate for minimizing the generation of orbital debris or
controlling its effects.
(b)
Sense
of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the goal of United States
policy should be that—
(1)
the space related activities of the United
States should be conducted in a manner that does not increase the amount of
orbital space debris; and
(2)
the United States should engage other
spacefaring Nations to develop an agreement on the conduct of space activities
that ensures that the amount of orbital space debris is not increased.