ESA strives for being the role model for a modern global space agency fully committed to improve the sustainability and social responsibility of space activities by:
Increasing the contribution of its projects to the sustainable development of society (Agenda 2025: “(…) ensure that ESA and European space programmes can support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the European...
In the course of implementation of the Green Deal, the EU's regulatory framework expanded significantly. RoHS directive, REACH and CLP regulations are undergoing revision process addressing EUs Chemical's Strategy for Sustainability, while new initiatives such as Sustainable Product Initiative (SPI) and relevant delegated acts adressing European Circular Economy Plan are piling up. This...
ClearSpace-1 Mission is part of ESA’s active debris removal/in-orbit servicing programme. Its objective is to rendezvous, capture and de-orbit a VESPA upper stage. The technology developed in this mission will set the ground for a recurrent commercial service for removal of space debris, as well as other in-orbit servicing capabilities.
Deimos is the full responsible for the GNC subsystem,...
A comprehensive overview of Thales Alenia Space's (TAS) initiatives in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and EcoDesign for large space missions is provided. Large space missions present unique challenges and opportunities in terms of environmental impact and sustainability assessment, due to their complexity in terms of Product Tree and Organization Breakdown structure as well as largeness of the...
e.Inspector ESA mission is focused on performing close proximity maneuvering around a debris (nominally a VESPA adapter) to get VIS-IR images of the target and support its status, shape, dynamics reconstruction in aid of capture and removal. The mission, currently in its phase B, is largely focused on designing, implementing and breadboarding the VIS-IR imaging chain, exploited on board for...
VITO has performed LCA studies for space missions over consecutive phases of development (from A, B1, B2 over C/D). The CO2M mission is one example where we started assessing the environmental impact already during the early stages of development and continuously update the environmental profiles in different iterations to improve the quality of the results and conclusions.
This...
Since the beginning of the space era, the number of debris generated in low Earth orbit (LEO) has been increasing. ESA statistics show there are an estimated 130 million objects in the 1 mm to 1 cm size classed as lethal non-trackable debris (with the potential to damage key infrastructure) and more than 2,700 non-functioning satellites. Analysis has shown that stabilising the space debris...
In the last years GMV, in collaboration with AVS and under ESA contracts, has been, and is still, designing and developing multiple technologies for ADR. Among those MICE, currently under validation phase, and CAT, currently in BreadBoard phase.
In line with the ESA strategy of zero-debris, goal of CAT-IOD is to perform an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of an Active Debris Removal (ADR)...
Airbus DS will share its the experience as prime leading LCA studies of the space segment for ESA missions, under different contexts. In particular, prime data collection compilation process will be presented, together with the equipment suppliers data collection strategy and LCA modelling philosophy of different ongoing projects (CRISTAL, LSTM, G2G, FORUM). An overview of the challenges faced...
Following ESA’s decision to set up a working group on Aeolus reentry at the Aladin workshop in February 2022, Airbus was involved in this working group aiming at defining the best strategy for Aeolus reentry in the evolving context of Space debris mitigation regulations.
This paper presents the overall contribution on this subject over the last 2 years, and covers the definition of a...
As a response to the increasing market need for In-Orbit Services, D-Orbit is developing an offer able to provide AOCS takeover and relocation of satellites, particularly in geostationary orbit. D-Orbit has analysed several alternatives for a system that can tackle such market segment. Considerations on the design choices advanced by established and emerging competitors, the variability in...
At the end of its mission lifetime, Aeolus was designed to reenter in an uncontrolled approach. Aeolus did not have to comply to ESA’s Space Debris Mitigation Policy, since its SRR was held before the entry into force of such Policy.
A Working Group was set up by ESA, involving ESA and industry experts, with the objective to explore alternative ways to reenter and reduce the casualty risk,...
Growing congestion and increasing collision risk in low Earth orbit call for the development of a more circular space economy. Ensuring orbits can be safely used now and in the future requires the availability of in-orbit services to remove legacy derelict objects and better manage the end-of-life of satellites. The ability to service spacecraft, to refuel, repair, upgrade, repurpose, and...
This presentation relates to the activities of the ESA LCA Database project as part of ESA Clean Space Initiative. The main purpose of the project is to build, consolidate and maintain a fully operational and up-to-date environmental LCA database and provide support services to the ESA LCA Database end-users. The presentation will focus on the main development in the project activities in the...
CHEOPS (Characterizing ExOPlanet Satellite) is the first small class ESA mission dedicated to characterizing exoplanets known to be orbiting nearby bright stars. CHEOPS telescope allows for high precision observations using the transient method, enabling the scientific community to determine the planets’ size and density accurately and to derive their structure and composition. CHEOPS is in a...
Space traffic is growing rapidly, and with it, the need for in-orbit servicing (IOS) solutions. Large constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO) are providing essential services, but are also increasing the number of objects, and therefore de-bris, in space and the risk of key orbits becoming unusable. Strategic and proactive approaches to safeguarding our space environment for future generations...
Of the record 180 rocket launches in 2022, 129 resulted in a rocket body being abandoned in orbit to eventually reenter the atmosphere days, weeks or years later. These uncontrolled reentries create a risk of casualty to people on the ground, at sea and in aircraft. Also in 2022, numerous pieces of large rocket debris from major launchers – including SpaceX Falcon-9 and Chinese Long-March...
In recent years, the issue of space debris has become a growing concern for the global space community. Currently, there are more than 9,000 tons of space debris orbiting Earth, posing significant challenges to future space missions. As space activities continue to increase, there is a pressing need for effective and sustainable debris mitigation and removal strategies. As the space industry...
Ariane 6 is the future large European Launcher launched from the Guiana Space Center (CSG). Besides, Ariane 6 launcher program corresponds to the first full application of the French Space Operations Act (FSOA) from the beginning of an European Launch System development. ESA Space Debris Mitigations Policy is also applicable to Ariane 6 development program.
The presentation will summarize the...
EROSS IOD (European Robotic Orbital Support Services - In Orbit Demonstration) is an EU-funded project within the Horizon Europe programme, aiming at demonstrating in orbit the European solutions for the Servicers and the Serviced LEO/GEO satellites, enabling a large range of efficient and safe orbital support services. EROSS IOD will showcase a mission design that will provide both life...
The growing population of objects in orbit and the accumulation of space debris over the past decades make it necessary to develop activities and initiatives focused on space debris removal. The first and most fundamental role of Space Surveillance & Tracking (SST) in those space debris removal activities is evident, enabling knowledge and prediction of object orbits and their associated...
With a continuously growing number of satellites in orbit, it becomes increasingly important to assess their impacts on the Earth's environment in a standardised manner. While interest in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for space missions has gained in strength in the past few years - particularly in Europe - no consensus has yet been reached on a single-score LCA system. In parallel however,...
** CNN4NEOOD Abstract Proposal for Clean Space Industry Days**
Application of Artificial Intelligence in space domains is gaining prominent interest due the increasing demand for services and in-orbit satellites number, with a consequent increasing number of proximity operations and the need to mitigate the risks posed by space debris, and non-cooperative targets. The goal is to provide a...
The Orbit Fab Podracer mission, focused on rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) in a sun-synchronous orbit, is the next step towards the first commercial satellite refueling. Refueling is one of the building blocks of a circular economy in space. The mission is an opportunity to promote sustainable in-space operations, and engage in open dialogue in on-orbit servicing. The mission,...
It is well-known that nowadays economy and society are highly dependent on the use of space and space applications: climate monitoring, weather forecast, transportation, communications, financial exchanges, etc. It is also known that, since the beginning of the space era the number of objects in orbit has continuously increased, with the orbital debris (abandoned stages, fragments from...
Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) are becoming an essential tool within the space transportation sector. These can support policy makers and designers in understanding the ecological footprint by quantifying environmental impacts, identifying hotspots throughout all phases in the launch mission, and designing environmentally sustainable systems though eco-design. Nevertheless, significant...
This presentation covers the first results of a study on the atmospheric effects of re-entering satellites in the mesosphere (40 – 100 km). Currently, the disposal method of choice for most LEO satellites is an atmospheric re-entry. However, in recent years a number of concerns have been raised about the amount of man-made material projected to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere in the coming...
We will present the preliminary results of the ESA study "Verification and Validation of Rendezvous and CPO Safety", namely the derivation of CPO guidelines for cooperative and non-cooperative clients (starting from the critical review of the ESA CPO guidelines Issue2.0), and the subsequent definition of the V&V approaches, methodologies and numerical tools corresponding to each guideline.
As humanity expands its presence in space, the challenges posed by space debris and the need for in-orbit servicing become increasingly pressing. While we venture into these frontiers, it is essential to address the ethical considerations associated with these prospective and immerging missions. In this talk, Jane Davies (MSc) will explore the importance of ethics in mission implementation for...
Orbit Fab is developing an orbital infrastructure of space vehicles to serve as the in-orbit propellant supply chain. The RAFTI open license service valve acts as a drop-in replacement for fill and drain valves which enable ground fuelling as well as in space refuelling services to customers who embark the valve on their platforms. Customers are able to equip their platforms for refuelling...
As many other actors in the sector, Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) is facing increasing internal and external requests for environmental evaluations and improvements of products in terms of sustainability. The needs are diverse, ranging from fast alternative assessments to external declarations. The resources, methods & tools to reply to these needs can be as various as the needs...
The maturation and maturity assessment of new technologies is essential for the success of new projects and programs. In some cases such processes require multi-years planning and significant investments before those technologies can be embedded in products for the benefit of our customers. It is therefore necessary to timely implement criteria for the assessment and the performance monitoring...
Despite the drastic launch cost reductions in the last 20 years and the various attempts to design multifunctional docking and refueling interfaces in US and Europe, Satellite Operators industry does not seem interested in adopting a particular coupling. A simple coupling is proposed, for a second time (as per AIAA 2006-5660), based on an adapter, applicable to existing fill & drain valves.
The growth of space industry is unprecedented in recent times. Each year more satellites occupy Earth’s orbit, providing services such as telecommunication, imagining and navigation. The rapid expansion of space industry resulted in increase of hazards connected with space debris. The defunct man-made objects exceed the number of functional satellites and constitute a risk of collision to...
Space exploration and exploitation depend on the development of in-orbit robotic capabilities for tasks such as servicing satellites, removing orbital debris and its recycling, or construction and maintenance of orbital assets. Manipulation and capture of objects in orbit are key enablers for these capabilities. Using today's single space manipulator systems with low autonomy and universality...
With the support of ESA and National administrations, Europe is developing its capability to deploy and operate infrastructure covering a large range of in-orbit services, from deorbiting and satellite life extension solutions to the in-orbit replacement of damaged subsystems. As one of the leading operations and ground segment providers in Europe, Telespazio are extending their ground...
As opposed to performance, cost, safety, and programmatic metrics, impacts on Earth or on the space environment have not been drivers of space systems and missions designs until recently. This is changing thanks to a shift of mindset, growing risk related to space debris, and a need to anticipate regulations that are likely to be applied to the space industry.
The new Assessment and...
Autonomous spacecraft proximity operation is demanded to achieve future missions, such as in-orbit servicing, active debris removal, object inspection and in-orbit assembly. The relative navigation is one of the factors which affect the overall performance and reliability of the rendezvous. Generally, the relative navigation sensors such as cameras with image processing or LiDAR are used to...
In the research field of novel monopropellants, there is a strong emphasis on the toxicity of hydrazine and the required non-toxic nature of the potential replacements for this widely used monopropellant. Novel monopropellants are often praised for their handling procedures which are less strict, costly and wasteful compared to hydrazine. However, while the sustainability improvements in this...
In recent years, interest towards in-orbit servicing (IOS) and active debris removal (ADR) has been increasing rapidly, thus resulting in increased technology demonstration and commercial orbital-servicing missions. Future IOS and ADR missions are expected to be more autonomous, and sensor perception is critical to gain knowledge and information about the target, especially if the target is...
State-of-the-art satellite chemical propulsion systems are based on conventional toxic propellants such as Hydrazine or its derivatives, which are environmentally harmful and therefore very extensive in handling.
Although, harmless to the environment, cold gas thrusters cannot reach the performance of chemical combustion technology, requiring big and high pressure gas tanks.
Electric...
Compared to Conventional Manufacturing (CM), Additive Manufacturing (AM) can enable the production of complex and optimized shapes while reducing the manufacturing cycle. For this reason, it is increasingly used to manufacture parts of rocket engines. AM is often presented as being able to be more economical in raw material and is seen as a “clean” process, without it having been fully...
Together with Ariane 6 & P120C major industrialists, ESA identified a set of improvements with relevant cost assessment.
The principal purpose of the activities is to reduce the costs required to manufacture Ariane 6 and furthermore to increase sustainability. In the longer term, ESA’s contribution to, and management of, the Process Improvement activities are of the utmost importance so as...
In the context of in-orbit servicing, the implementation of a space-servicing vehicle necessitates a specific level of autonomic decision-making capabilities. This requirement becomes particularly crucial when dealing with active debris removal of defunct satellites that exhibit uncooperative behaviour during the removal process, potentially also displaying unpredictable attitude behaviour. To...
Space travel is at a turning point in its history. In 2022, more space objects were launched into space than ever before. The announced number of satellites for constellations will require an unprecedented transport capacity. At the same time, humanity is faced with the challenge of converting its activities to sustainable operations. Against this background, the question arises as to how...
LMO is a Luxembourg based company involved in the development of vision-based navigation technologies for close proximity operations, with a focus in modern algorithms, their embedding in space-capable state-of-the-art electronics and their interaction with the spacecraft GNC system. Progress has been made through three main streams covering the development, implementation and validation in...
MaiaSpace is a European space tech company, designing, manufacturing and operating more sustainable space transportation solutions. It is driven by the belief that space stands as a major enabler for a better and more sustainable life on Earth, contributing to future challenges mankind is facing: climate change, resources run out, digital divide, data collection. Its first and primary focus is...
MDA UK together with City University of London (CUL) is developing VIRGO (Visible and InfraRed Guidance Optics), this is a multispectral camera solution which combines two spectral bands, thermal infrared (TIR) and visible (VIS), with complementary sensitivities and capabilities, into a single architecture design. Furthermore, this solution comprises algorithms for sensors data fusion and pose...
With easier access to space and the arrival of new players, the number of satellites is increasing sharply. From the 2000s to the 2020s, the annual number of objects launched into space rose from a hundred per year to more than a thousand. In the same time, the risk of collision between active satellites and inactive objects and space debris has become more tangible and is monitored daily....
This presentation will review the progress made by SPACEO in the field of inflatable drag devices, which are a crucial technology for the de-orbiting of satellites.
SPACEO identified and tested a range of materials tailored for the unique demands of the space environment. These materials exhibit characteristics such as extreme durability, lightness, and resistance to harsh space...
The Space Rider program, part of the space transportation systems of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to reach a step-further into Europe’s space access capabilities by developing an uncrewed, automated, and reusable spaceplane capable of carrying out multiple missions to and from low Earth orbit (LEO).
The primary scope of this presentation is to focus on possible...
As one of the most promising end-of-life disposal solutions, solid propulsion for direct deorbitation is under development in Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation and polish partners for ESA. The presented work is split into two activities, one describing a Solid Rocket Motor Engineering Model Development and second concerning a dedicated Thrust Vector Control System concept....
In recent years, the escalating space debris problem and the finite nature of our resources have spurred a critical need to reevaluate our approach to satellite missions and operations. To address these challenges and foster a more sustainable space ecosystem, the concept of a circular economy on orbit has emerged. This presentation will delve into the key aspects of this paradigm shift,...
On-orbit refueling (OOR) is growing into a major building block of the hustling space economy. OOR finds application in GEO, LEO and cis-Lunar orbits.MEV-1 and MEV-2 were ground breaking demonstrations, which have validated the use-case of satellite life extension and garnered interest from the satellite asset owners and operators. Though, different methods of life-extension are possible,...
The upcoming changes in policy and regulation concerning the European launcher and space industry are going to have a range of consequences on the mission and system design, particularly on dual launches and on ESA missions.
Now that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is adopting new rules to address the growing risk of "space junk" or abandoned satellites, rockets and other...
At the end of their active phases satellites have to be removed from their operational orbits and passivated in order to avoid the creation of debris and thus secure the use of these orbits for active and future satellites. As part of the Clean Space / CleanSat activities ArianeGroup extended its portfolio with the following components / technologies that will be presented:
- A SMA (Shape...
Introduction
IOANT is an on-going activity supported by the European Space Agency aimed at the development of a versatile autonomous GNC system for in-orbit assembly (IOA) of large antennas.
The target is to advance the Technology Readiness Level of several key GNC technologies to 4. To reach this, the activity is structured into two phases:
Phase 1 consists in the definition of a...
Addressing the pressing need for space debris mitigation, and thanks to ESA ARTES funding, Argotec and ABSL jointly developed a novel End-of-Life management system optimized for small-satellites constellations: the first technology demonstrator has been developed and is known as European Reconfigurable Battery Unplugging System (EReBUS).
The project delved into the development of...
The ADEO-N subsystem is the smallest of a scalable drag augmentation device family ADEO that uses the residual Earth atmosphere present in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to passively de-orbit small satellites. For the de-orbit manoeuvre a large surface is deployed which multiplies the drag effective surface of the satellite significantly. Thereby the drag force is increased, causing accelerated decay...
To allow a zero-waste circular economy in space, technologies to turn heterogeneous metal-rich waste streams into new usable products in situ must be developed. While recycling space debris is one target application, such a system can also be used to process byproducts from space resources utilization. Such byproducts are for example generated by the molten salt electrolysis (MSE) process...
Recent long-term simulations of the space environment extrapolating the current launch rate under present space debris mitigation measures suggests that the space environment will become unstable, leading to an exponential increase of the collision rate. The analysis of the extrapolation scenarios defines an acceptable level of risk (i.e., an orbital capacity) that is compatible with a stable...
According to the market predictions, more than 18 thousand small satellites will be launched in orbit in the next 10 years. The advances in satellite system miniaturization, together with the lower costs of manufacturing and testing, make them an attractive option for many applications such as global connectivity and Earth imaging.
Within the ESA Zero Debris approach, more stringent...
The proliferation of space debris has become an escalating crisis, yearning an urgent need for comprehensive mitigation strategies. One prominent strategy for space debris mitigation involves the deliberate planning of space missions and post-mission disposal ensuring re-entry of spacecrafts into Earth's atmosphere. To ensure effective disposal, re-entry predictions through advanced...
As the realm of space exploration continues to progress, the need to ensure the secure and sustainable operation of spacecraft during end-of-life re-entry has become increasingly critical. To meet this challenge, aerospace engineers are employing specific methodologies and tools for meticulous analysis. Among these tools, the Debris Risk Assessment and Mitigation Analysis (DRAMA) has emerged...
The very dynamic nature of space flight activity, in combination with a progressive growth in space debris, requires associated space debris mitigation standards and practices to co-evolve. Similarly, there is a strong need for the development of tools to assess and verify compliance with those standards and derived requirements for specific satellite missions. The Debris Mitigation Facility...
The ESA SCORED activity aims to establish a comprehensive database of approved material and component models for use in destructive re-entry (DRE) and hypervelocity impact (HVI) simulations. As its primary output, the project will deliver a repository of model definitions that can be accessed by both ESA personnel and third-parties using a web-browser and processes to be used when constructing...
ADMATIS LTD. joined to ESA Clean Space initiative in 2018 in PEMSUN project to perform feasibility study of passive navigation aids capable to function in VNIR and TIR spectra. Based on the first promising results continuation projects included the full development and manufacturing of Markers Supporting Navigation (MSN project) in 50 to 5m and 5 to 0m ranges, respectively. Markers are...
Due to the multiplication of private actors in the space adventure, France has adopted in 2008 the French Space Operation Act (FSOA), which establish a national regime of authorization and supervision for space activities. Then, the Technical Regulations has clearly addressed the concepts of safety and sustainability of space activities, including the safety of people and property. Within this...
MICE (Mechanical Interface for Capture at End-of-Life) is a single-part passive interface designed for enabling the capture and de-orbiting of satellites at their End-of-Life or in premature malfunction by a Servicing Spacecraft in case the satellites cannot be deorbited by themselves.
MICE has been developed under several ESA contracts by a consortium led by GMV, in charge of system-level...
When simulating space debris during atmospheric entry, the thermal environment is often modelled using heat flux correlations, with the resultant thermal loads being averaged over simplified representations of spacecraft (complex compound shapes composed of geometric primitives). Although this procedure is computationally efficient, the application of averaged heat fluxes to such compound...
To limit the risk of cascading collisions, we will need active debris removal missions to retrieve satellites that die before they can be deorbited. It is well understood that sudden fatal failures can cause a dead satellite to tumble uncontrollably, but even properly decommissioned satellites may start tumbling spontaneously from solar radiation pressure torque buildup, making capture...
Fiber reinforced plastics (FRPs) have previously been considered demisable because of their organic nature and the fact that they would be able to burn at ground conditions. However, entry flight simulations revealed that this assumption was overly optimistic. Instead of quickly burning away, fiber reinforced composites typically behave similar to the materials used in ablative thermal...
ESA under the umbrella of the Clean Space Initiative has promoted complementary activities in view of Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions.
One of the main challenges driving the complexity of the rendezvous and capture of a debris is its rotational state. In-orbit observations of defunct satellites do not show an ideal Gravity Gradient capture, but instead large angular rates letting the...
With the number of LEO satellites also increases the need for a demisable tanks in case of an uncontrolled reentry. Simulations have shown that it is not enough to only melt the aluminum liner during the reentry if market relevant tank sizes of around 40L and 150bar operating pressure are considered. The composite of the vessel must degrade to a high extent so that an impact to ground does not...
Abstract
In the latest years ESA has taken a proactive role in the area of Active Debris Removal (ADR) by preparing the new generation of Earth Observation satellites for a potential removal as part of their End-of-Life management. In this respect, the six Copernicus Sentinel Expansion Missions have adopted the Design for Removal Interface Requirements Document produced by ESA and are...
Design for Demise has become an increasingly important subject over the last years. Primarily to achieve compliant uncontrolled re-entries but with the updated regulations potentially also for future controlled re-entries.
Several recent projects have shown that one important method to improve the demise behaviour can be an early fragmentation of the spacecraft structure or an active...
The demisability of optical payloads is challenging due to the high performance materials used. Two high ground risk aspects, glass materials used in lenses and mirrors, and titanium bipods, were tested and carefully modelled in this work.
A number of previous works have attempted to assess the demisability of glass materials, in particular Zerodur, although little material demise testing has...
After more than two decades years of experimental and numerical simulation of the demise of materials and components during the entry flight, our knowledge on the phenomena involved in this destructive process and correct modelling thereof is still quite limited. There are many unknowns regarding the behaviour of the various materials and material categories and huge uncertainties. It is...
The work presents the achievements of DRACO (Destructive Re-entry Assessment Container Object) during phases A-B1. This ESA mission aims to enhance the understanding of the multi-disciplinary physics governing the destructive re-entry of a LEO-representative small satellite.
Several trade-offs have been conducted during these phases, including mission and system architecture, mission...
Controlling the levels of space debris has become a greater focus of the industry given the volume of spacecraft expected to be launched in the foreseeable future. The re-entry of spacecraft into the Earth’s atmosphere can contain fragments which are able to survive the loads and heat experienced during re-entry into the atmosphere. These same fragments will also have a probability to cause...
As the number of satellites and space debris continues to grow, this project will support the development of an advanced automated AI-powered platform to monitor, operate, and protect Canadian air space and space assets. The gateway to space domain awareness (SDA) is understanding orbital mechanics and being able to predict and track the motion of resident space objects (RSOs). Prediction and...
The success of active debris removal and in-orbit servicing missions relies on key enabling technologies to overcome historical challenges. The most significant capability of non-cooperative rendezvous and docking has to become a turnkey solution, an add-on for small, agile platforms and not only available for massive, expensive satellites. Infinite Orbits is developing a multimodal RdV GNC...
This presentation is to present our current findings on how a circular economy can be extended to outer space. We take a look at other industries and identify the requirements of circular material flows in space. We then describe a case study for a typical spacecraft and outline a process to change from linear to circular perspective, and to servicing, reuse, and remanufacturing in space.
I...
Infinite Orbits (IO) is building two types of in-orbit servicers - namely OrbitGuard (OG) and Endurance. Both are developed to serve customers in GEO orbit. OG-1 was launched in May 2023 and shall demonstrate in-situ SSA capabilities and ability to maneuver around the GEO orbit as and when required to track various RSO's. Endurance shall have the capability to dock with a target satellite and...
To make the space sector the leading sector for sustainability, one that is ‘near zero by design’, it must ensure every space company has a regularly-updated quantification of their environmental impact and a roadmap to improve it.
To achieve this, data gathering and analysis must:
- Be user-centred in their alignment with existing working practices
- Integrate with available...
From In-Orbit Servicing, Clean Space, Planetary Landing (Moon Based Infrastructure) up to Rovers Planetary Exploration will need LIDAR sensors due to it provides essential information to the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) System. .
The recent developments of new technologies led by the automotive market has enhanced small formats of Imaging LIDAR sensors.
In the framework of an...
At a time when the number of satellites in orbit is increasing and with the rise of mega-constellations, ensuring effective satellite end-of-life (EOL) operations has become crucial. However, these operations can often be challenging due to need of consecutive manoeuvres and continuous satellite monitoring. In addition, there may be periods of missing data and manoeuvres may contain...
The growing number of space debris in the low earth orbit poses a danger to manned and uncrewed missions. Additionally, the new business model of providing internet from space is emerging among new space players, making low earth orbit more crowded. Research shows that most of the debris in low earth orbit is caused by spacecraft. Hence, a sustainable approach to running space operations is...
