Speakers
Description
Due to its uniqueness, the space sector needs more specific methodology definitions besides the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards on LCA, in order to apply LCA studies to space applications. Therefore, to enhance and strengthen the LCA approach in space industry, ESA developed a new methodological LCA framework, taking into consideration the specificities of space sector. Additionally, a consolidated LCA oriented database for the space sector was developed as part of this methodological approach..
Since 2012, ESA have conducted several projects on space LCA. Collectively, these are an important step toward the realisation of the LCA as a viable approach for scientifically quantifying environmental impacts in Space Sector, both for internal activities (using datasets with confidential information and industry proprietary information) but also promoting it with external stakeholders (containing non-confidential information). During past ESA contracts around 1000 relevant, unique datasets have been included and harmonized into the ESA LCA Database (internal and external), using SimaPro software with ecoinvent database.
The objective of the ESA Environmental LCA Database project is to further build, consolidate and maintain a fully operational and up-to-date environmental LCA database to be used by ESA and European stakeholders from ESA member states. As such, this presentation details the current ESA LCA Database structure and features, and follows the foreseen improvements during the contract.
