Michael Byers, University of British Columbia

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of British Columbia profile.

Latest papers

Airspace closures due to reentering space objects.
Scientific reports · 2025 · senior author
One million (paper) satellites.
Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2023 · senior author
Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth.
Scientific reports · 2021 · senior author

All 5 publications

Latest funding

Bringing Outer Space Governance into the 21st Century
SSHRC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$18,000
Coordination challenges on-and-around the Moon
SSHRC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$250,000
Orbital and surface risks from rocket bodies: Physical challenges, interdisciplinary solutions
NSERC · 2022 · Co-investigator
$300,000

All 17 grants and awards

5 publications.

01

Airspace closures due to reentering space objects.

Wright E, Boley A, Byers M

Scientific reports2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-84001-2 PMID: 39848998

02

One million (paper) satellites.

Falle A, Wright E, Boley A, Byers M

Science (New York, N.Y.)2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1126/science.adi4639 PMID: 37824632

03

Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth.

Boley AC, Byers M

Scientific reports2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89909-7 PMID: 34017017

04

U.S. space policy: An international model-Response.

Boley A, Byers M

Science (New York, N.Y.)2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1126/science.abf4916 PMID: 33243882

05

U.S. policy puts the safe development of space at risk.

Boley A, Byers M

Science (New York, N.Y.)2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1126/science.abd3402 PMID: 33033208

Bringing Outer Space Governance into the 21st Century

Principal investigatorSSHRC2024Knowledge Synthesis Grants - Envisioning Governance Systems that Work

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

Keywords: Outer space; Outer space treaties; International governance; International space law; Space policy; Outer space activities; Outer space technologies

$18,000

Coordination challenges on-and-around the Moon

Principal investigatorSSHRC2023New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

$250,000

Orbital and surface risks from rocket bodies: Physical challenges, interdisciplinary solutions

Co-investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Horizons

Principal investigators: Boley, Aaron

Keywords: Astrodynamics; Rocket bodies; International Law; Space Law; Space Policy; Orbital Debris; Uncontrolled Reentries; Sustainability; Liability, Space; Reentry Hazards

$300,000

Sustainable Development of Low Earth Orbit

Principal investigatorSSHRC2021Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

Keywords: outer space; satellites; space debris; international law; international relations; astronomy; aerospace engineering; telecommunications; sustainable development

$142,200

Sustainable Development of Low Earth Orbit

Principal investigatorSSHRC2021Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

Keywords: outer space; satellites; space debris; international law; international relations; astronomy; aerospace engineering; telecommunications; sustainable development

$139,200

Sustainable Development of Low Earth Orbit

Principal investigatorSSHRC2020Department of National Defence Research Initiative (DNDRI)

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

Keywords: satellites; constellations; space debris; anti-satellite weapons; space surveillance; international law; assignment of orbits; de-orbiting; collison avoidance; insurance; liability; causation

$54,000

Safe and Sustainable Development of Space

Principal investigatorSSHRC2019New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

$273,175

Who Owns Outer Space? International Law on the Final Frontier

Principal investigatorSSHRC2018Insight Development Grant

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

Keywords: (1) Outer Space; (2) Treaties; (3) Interpretation; (4) Practice; (5) Customary International Law; (6) Satellites; (7) Space Mining; (8) Space Debris; (9) Commercialization

$52,200

Global Politics and International Law

Principal investigatorSSHRC2017Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

Keywords: Space; Arctic; frontiers; international law; international relations; international crises; international cooperation

$950,000

Global Politics and International Law

Principal investigatorSSHRC2017Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Byers, Michael

$400,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Aaron Boley

Physics and Astronomy

4 shared papers, latest 2025

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student Dear Professor Byers, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Airspace closures due to reentering space objects." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "Bringing Outer Space Governance into the 21st Century" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]