06/24 - Exploring Near Space: Myths, Realities, and Military Implications

Demarcation and Sovereignty of the Near-Space Region As regards the extent of sovereign airspace and the near-space region, two fundamental questions arise. [...] Hence, the orbital space is beyond reach, and we only need to consider the integration of the sub-orbital space with the upper atmosphere, which is being called near-space. [...] Advancements in aerospace technologies are enabling the exploitation of the unused portion of the airspace, which is the upper atmosphere. [...] Such a nomenclature of the upper atmosphere has implications for the sovereignty of airspace, which is deemed to exist up to the commonly accepted demarcation between airspace and space. [...] However, the use of high- altitude platforms in this region has several implications in terms of the safety of traffic transiting through the upper atmosphere and the inadequacy of regulations governing the use of near-space.