Description
Active debris removal (ADR) involves removing defunct satellites and large non-functional objects from orbit. Despite its widely recognised benefits, investment in ADR capabilities remains limited. This presents a puzzle: despite widespread rhetorical support for space sustainability, Japan is unique in actively deploying ADR capabilities without strong economic or regulatory drivers.
To explain this variation, the paper draws on 63 semi-structured interviews and document analysis to examine Japan's evolving ADR ecosystem, including JAXA's Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration programme, Astroscale's missions, regulatory initiatives, and public-private partnerships.
The findings suggest that Japanese actors have justified investment by linking debris remediation to broader objectives including technological leadership, industrial development, and responsible participation in the space domain. These overlapping rationales have sustained support despite uncertain economic incentives and limited regulatory requirements.
The paper makes two contributions to International Studies. First, it advances understanding of first-mover behaviour in global public goods provision, highlighting the political foundations of leadership where collective benefits are recognised but incentives remain weak. Second, it extends analyses of international cooperation beyond agreement and commitment to who bears the costs of implementation.