In recent years, there has been an increased focus on the environmental impacts of all things in our daily lives. With a focus on the European industry: space exploration and space proliferation has been seeing a ramp-up to a more sustainable and more responsibly targeted set of guidelines and standards to facilitate this.
With many research and development activities underway that are...
Ali Gülhana*, Thorn Schleutker a^, Patrik Seltnera, Pawel Goldyna, Niklas Wendela
a German Aerospace Center DLR
* Corresponding Author
^ Presenting Author
Abstract
The German Arospace Center DLR, one of the world’s most renown research institutions in the aerospace field, is committed to making the economy and society sustainable. For this purpose, DLR researches...
Reducing the risk of casualties from debris uncontrolled re-entry is of major interest. It requires advancing the knowledge of space debris degradation during their re-entry and strengthening the predictive capabilities of the high-fidelity and spacecraft-oriented numerical tools and material response solvers.
To fulfill this target, various materials have been identified to be analyzed and...
The re-entry of space systems 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 fragments have a probability to cause harm or damage to humans and the environment. The casualty risk is driven by the number and size of re-entering fragments. The objective of this activity is to enhance the...
Atmospheric re-entry of debris could pose significant risks. Debris fragments that survive and reach the surface of the Earth can represent an impact risk to people and property. A number of existing guidelines and regulations in several countries fix the probability at 10-4 as the threshold for the maximum allowed re-entry casualty risk. The French Space Operation Act (FSOA) is specific in...
Re-entry studies show that, for most spacecraft, the structure becomes hot before the forces become appreciable, resulting in a thermal model for fragmentation being adequate in many cases. However, for larger spacecraft, the higher mass being decelerated results in significantly higher forces being put through the joints, and this suggests that a thermomechanical model is necessary to capture...
Due to the multiplication of private actors in the space adventure, France has adopted in 2008 the French Space Operation Act (FSOA), which established a national regime of authorization and supervision for space activities. The Technical Regulations have clearly addressed the concepts of safety and sustainability of space activities, including the safety of people and property. Within this...
Material demise behaviour is critical to the casualty risk posed from re-entering space debris. However, the modelling of material demise in destructive re-entry tools, no matter how geometrically complex, tends to be very basic. The majority of tools model all materials as ‘equivalent metals’, where the assumption is that the material demise behaviour can be adequately captured using a...
This thesis presents a stochastic assessment of destructive re-entry for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft, addressing the growing concern over space debris and uncontrolled re-entries. The study aims to improve the understanding of uncertainties in calculating ground risk, thereby ensuring compliance with Space Debris Mitigation (SDM) requirements.
One critical challenge addressed in this...
Since the beginning of the space era, the amount of debris generated in low Earth orbit (LEO) has been increasing. ESA statistics show there are an estimated 130 million objects classed as lethal non-trackable debris and more than 2,600 non-functioning satellites. Analysis has shown that stabilising the space debris population can only be achieved by maintaining high PMD (Post Mission...
In view of satellite technology advancements, a diverse array of satellites with varying objectives, from simple in-orbit demonstrations to complex missions, are being deployed in Earth's orbit. Recent decades have seen new space actors priorities cost, leading to advancements in equipment miniaturization and resource optimization. This trend, however, has contributed to an increase in orbital...
ESA's vision towards a sustainable and competitive space transportation ecosystem relies on an optimised fleet of reusable launchers injecting payloads on Earth and Lunar parking orbits, combined with a "hub & spoke" space logistics network: with space tugs to reach the final orbits (e.g., for constellations phasing, exploration missions) and orbital infrastructures to support in-orbit...
ESA is dedicated to being a leading role model in space sustainability, extending its commitment from Earth to Earth's orbit and beyond. The Agenda 2025 delineates clear objectives to enhance ESA projects’ sustainable development benefits while simultaneously minimising its environmental footprint. The ESA Green Agenda is the action plan supporting key initiatives to achieve these objectives...
Failure prognostics has become more and more essential in the context of large constellations operations, where the complexity of the overall system and the service requirements pose several operational challenges. The possibility to detect early symptoms of incipient failures and predict the expected Remaining Useful Life reduces the need for urgent and critical operations and the risk of...
The ClearSpace-1 mission, as one of the main activity area of the European Space Agency’s ADRIOS program, will develop a demonstration to rendezvous, capture, secure and deorbit another spacecraft. The client will be the ESA-owned PROBA-1 spacecraft, operating flawlessly meanwhile for more than 20 years. The mission is developed as an in-orbit demonstration mission funded by the European Space...
Compliance with ESA’s Space Debris Mitigation Health Monitoring requirements can be achieved with existing artificial intelligence and automation software. As the industry addresses the immediate challenges of requirements implementation, health monitoring industry partners should shift their collective focus toward developing common metrics, data-sharing protocols, and performance indicators...
In the last years GMV, under ESA contracts and in collaboration with AVS, has been and is still, designing and developing multiple technologies for ADR. Among those MICE, Mechanical Interface for end-of-life CapturE, currently qualified and already on orbit carried by the AVS’s LUR-1 S/C, and CAT, Return Capture Payload Bay, whose bread board has been just tested and validated within the...
Orbital debris, coming in different sizes and orbits, amplifies the risks of orbital collisions with crewed and robotic spacecraft. Unexpected fragmentation events similar to the Resurs P break-up in highly populated low earth orbits threatens the EU space infrastructure.
There is a long-term need for green, interoperable and affordable space debris mitigation and remediation technologies. ...
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 processes, addressing Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, while new initiatives such as Sustainable Product Initiative (SPI) and relevant delegated acts addressing European Circular Economy Plan are piling up.
The scope...
e.Inspector, a GSTP smallsat mission, successfully closed its phase B in July 2024. The mission is developed by a consortium composed by Leonardo SpA, T4i, Leaf Space and led by Politecnico di Milano. The mission will flyaround with increasing proximity from 1km to 100m a debris, taking images in the visible and thermal bands to adequately reconstruct its status and test multispectral image...
Two LCA studies were conducted in parallel on two Copernicus missions with the aim of quantitatively assessing the recurrent environmental impacts of the CRISTAL and LSTM satellites, which has as Lead System Integrator (LSI) Airbus DS.
The functional unit (FU) of this study is the “The definition, manufacturing, integration, qualification, testing and preparation for launch of the Satellite...
Space traffic has grown exponentially with new, innovative companies launching thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). The number of spacecrafts has grown from 800 in 2019 to 5000 in 2022 and has doubled in one year up to more than 10 000 active satellites in orbit in 2023. This exponential growth must not lead to a disaster and the ESA Zero Debris initiative liaise as a meaningful...
Increasing the accuracy and quantifying the uncertainty of space surveillance data is critical to minimising operator overheads and maximising the effectiveness of Collision Avoidance Maneuvers (CAMs). Tracking aids are a major part of this. Here, we present a new standard for required retroreflectivity for passive tracking aids to become interoperable with laser ranging stations in a...
In the space industry, performing a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as early as possible during Projects’ evolution is nowadays crucial for minimizing environmental impact and to define Ecodesign strategies. However, obtaining the necessary input data for the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) can be challenging due to delays or lack of feedback from the supply chain and subcontractors. This...
For a sustainable future in-space ecosystem space mobility must be increased and, in this concept, space transportation vehicles (ISTVs) present the core element. ISTVs would open the door to a variety of servicing opportunities, in which the overall accessibility of failed or retired satellites is increased. Replacement frequencies of spacecrafts are reduced by refuelling ISTVs, as well as...
Since the dawn of the space exploration, the number of objects orbiting the Earth has exponentially grown. In the next decades, with the emergence of new actors and the commercial exploitation of the Space, a population in the order of several hundreds of thousands of satellites is foreseen, with circa 75% of them being active objects. In this scenario, manual on-ground decision-making...
The benefits of In-Orbit Servicing are significantly enhanced by attending to multiple client satellites in a single mission, leading to increased cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. By enabling a single servicer spacecraft to visit multiple clients during each mission, operational cadence is improved, and costs are distributed across multiple tasks.
This presentation demonstrates...
An iterative Life Cycle Assessment has been performed in the frame of the Earth Observation mission CO2M with the aim of evaluating the environmental impact contributions of its Space Segment elements within the various mission phases, from B2 to E1. VITO and OHB teamed to provide a first iteration in 2022 (end of phase B2); now, with the project at the end of its phase C, a more consistent...
With the increase of anthropogenic space objects, space traffic management is becoming more crucial to space sustainability. In line with ESA’s Zeros Debris approach, in-orbit collision avoidance (COLA) has become an integral part of almost every Low Earth Orbit mission. However, it is also important to consider in the maneuver decision the socio-economic impact of those satellites on...
The European Space Agency's (ESA) experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in ESA projects has revealed environmental hotspots of space missions by phases of the lifecycle and for specific engineering processes such as manufacturing, office work, system and equipment testing, etc.
As LCA becomes a standard requirement for ESA missions, the expertise and data acquired enable the elaboration...
The ongoing Smallsat (r)evolution related to strongly increasing numbers of launches, failures and reduced sizes, raises issues regarding the detection and identification of space objects for the overall Space Situational Awareness (SSA), future Space Traffic Management (STM) but also for the individual spacecraft operators themselves. This talk gives a brief overview describing the challenges...
The Space Rider System (SRS) is an affordable, independent, re-usable, uncrewed, end-to-end European transportation system for routine access to and return from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Initially conceived to be mainly a commercial exploitation medium dedicated to host PLs and to perform in orbit experiments (with the capability to return them back to Earth), its concept can be extended to serve...
In alignment with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Zero Debris Approach, a series of key initiatives are being launched to advance space sustainability. This presentation aims to highlight the core objectives of the Zero Debris Approach, focusing particularly on the current and upcoming activities at the platform level. These initiatives include the development of platform evolutions designed...
The development of the use of OTT (over-the-top) video services is illustrated by the exploitation of an impressive figure of 70% of the internet backbone bandwidth. Although there is room for eco-friendly improvement, as often users are provided with a unicast mode, a challenge remains on how to avoid congestion on distribution networks, thus requiring anticipating new investments and...
The concept of a circular economy within the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) environment is increasingly gaining traction, driven by the innovative new modular concepts coming out of the new space GEO platform manufacturers. This approach emphasizes sustainability and efficiency, maximizing the utility of resources already present in space and minimising waste, but practical applications are...
Astroscale’s vision is the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations. Astroscale is well known for its emergent debris removal services including ELSA-d (one of the world’s first key demonstrations of magnetic capture and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations – RPO), ELSA-M (multi-client commercial end of life servicing platform) and UK ADR (planned mission...
With an increasing number of CubeSats in LEO, the need for sustainable practices for these spacecraft becomes increasingly critical. This presentation outlines part of our roadmap for transitioning CubeSats to zero debris by 2030, aligning with global space sustainability goals and minimizing disruptions to the CubeSat development mindset. A key focus will be a trade-off analysis performed to...
A LCA study was conducted with the aim of quantitatively assessing the recurrent environmental impacts of the Galileo Second Generation Satellites, in particular the batch 1 of this mission, which has as Lead System Integrator (LSI) Airbus DS.
The functional unit (FU) of this study is the “The definition, manufacturing, integration, qualification, testing and preparation for launch of the...
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is a planned Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband network that will use a constellation of 3232 satellites to provide fast, affordable connectivity to unserved and underserved communities globally. In developing a large constellation, it is necessary to consider space sustainability as a key factor during the design process – not only because it protects the space...
Space has captivated the human imagination for decades, fostering an environment of innovation and technological advancement. The exploration of these new space worlds has historically been done in an exclusive and often confrontational manner. Founded in 2021, it is the mission of The Exploration Company (TEC) to enable everyone to participate peacefully in the building of our human future....
Thales Alenia Space in the UK (TASitUK) is playing a key role in the development of sustainable space missions systems in Europe through involvement in key IOS missions and studies focused on Propulsion.
TASitUK is contributing to multiple projects involving refuelling systems to understand the best system designs for propellant transfer between spacecraft including operational constraints,...
MaiaSpace is a European space tech company designing, manufacturing and operating more sustainable space transportation solutions. Its ambition is to have the lowest environmental impact of the industry on the Earth and space, while being competitive. To achieve this, MaiaSpace has been evaluating the environmental impacts of its launch service through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model since...
Abstract – OPS-SAT-1 EOL
The OPS-SAT-1 spacecraft, an innovative CubeSat mission launched on December 18, 2019, by the European Space Agency (ESA), successfully demonstrated advanced in-orbit technology until its reentry on May 22, 2024. This presentation offers an overview of the satellite’s final weeks of operations, focusing on onboard telemetry analysis, the impact of anomalies,...
Refuelling is a crucial enabler for mitigating the space debris problem and promoting a more sustainable use of space. Orbit Fab is developing an orbital infrastructure designed to provide a ubiquitous supply of propellant for all in-orbit assets, both governmental and commercial, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for deorbit and replacement. This vision will end the single use...
Regulations for the deorbiting of satellites after their end-of-business are getting more stringent across all space fairing nations. In compliance with these new regulations, HPS offers a family of dragsail systems with the name ADEO that allow passive deorbiting of satellites by using the residual atmosphere in LEO. The current ADEO family consists of the ADEO-P (1.7 m²), ADEO-C (3.4 m²),...
OHB Italia is leading the development of the Grappling and Docking Interface (GDI) for ESA’s In-Space-Proof-of-Concept 1 Mission (InSPoC-1), within the OHB consortium. The mission development has completed the Phase B1, following the conclusion of an intensive breadboarding test campaign.
The design of two different Grappling and Docking Interface architectures were outlined, and their...
The Assessment and Comparison Tool (ACT) combines simplified Life Cycle Assessment with space-specific technical information to compute the environmental impacts of (future) space systems.
The tool is in its second development phase (project REACT). Originally developed to compute rapid prospective LCAs of launch vehicles, ACT’s new objectives cover the wider scope of space transportation...
Recent regulatory changes mandate that spacecraft must possess reliable deorbiting capabilities, requiring all subsystems to remain operational after extended periods in space. Ensuring high reliability presents significant challenges for manufacturers due to time and budget constraints. Astrobrake's simple and spacecraft-independent design inherently ensures high reliability. However,...
The space industry has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, marked by an increasing number of satellites being deployed into Earth's orbit annually. These satellites provide critical services such as telecommunications, imaging, and navigation. However, the rapid expansion of this industry has also led to a significant increase in hazards associated with space debris. Currently,...
Product design decisions significantly influence the environmental performance of a product from "Cradle to Grave". However, during this critical phase, designers often face a lack of environmental data and context, coupled with long feedback loops regarding the design’s impact. Addressing these challenges offers substantial potential for reducing environmental impact.
Integrating a Life...
The calculation of emissions from rockets requires a determination of time, location and the occurring species and their quantities. The University of Stuttgart is developing a tool to predict these for the launch and re-entry of rockets. The presentation will introduce the tool, which calculates the emissions of common propellants (LOX/LH2, LOX/CH4, LOX/RP-1, UDMH/NTO, Solid, Hybrid) for the...
The current trend and interest in a sustainable space crystallises the efforts of European space actors. One of the key themes of the ESA Cleanspace directives and French Space Operations Act from CNES includes the development of end-of-life technologies to minimize the number of debris after completion of the mission.
The introduction of space laws, guidelines and charter to reduce the...
In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in interest in the sustainable development of the space sector. Public awareness of the space debris problem within the context of future space logistics has significantly driven the development of solutions to address this critical issue.
SENER Aeroespacial is committed to playing a key role in addressing this challenge. The company...
ESA LCA DB
ESA LCA Database evolution
Abstract
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...
In the highly populated LEO region the controlled disposal of satellites, upper rocket bodies and interstages at the end of their life cycle requires effective propulsion systems. This presentation introduces the development of a novel Solid Propulsion System designed for deorbitation manoeuvres, utilizing an aluminium-free propellant Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) integrated with a dedicated Thrust...
As the number of satellites and the complexity of space missions increase, the need for standardized mechanical interfaces results as a crucial aspect for facilitate interoperability, reduce costs and enhance mission flexibility. This aspect is particular important for the In Orbit servicing missions were refurbishment or deorbiting of existing satellites are expected to help to improve the...
InSpacePropulsion Technologies (ISPTech) is a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen. The Institute has more than a decade of experience in green propellant research and green propulsion hardware development. Based on this knowledge, in-house thruster and propulsion hardware development was pushed forward. Currently, two promising...
ESA has been pioneering the application of LCA to evaluate environmental impacts of space projects. The space sector is a unique domain, for which the application of LCA requires the development of dedicated databases and methodological rules. ESA published in 2016, for the first time ever, a Space Systems Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines, being a setting up stone in the progress of LCA for...
In recent years, the space sector has undergone a deep transformation. A few concepts from the “New Space” paradigm are playing a pivotal role: cost reduction through economies of scale, intensive use of COTS, standardisation and accelerated development cycles are among the most relevant ones.
A second transformation wave will need from a comprehensive on-orbit transportation and servicing...
DARK: D eorbit AR kadia’s K it
Abstract
Arkadia Space develops and manufactures a line of novel monopropellant and bipropellant propulsion systems based on 98% hydrogen peroxide (HTP). A truly green propellant, offering high performance at a fraction of the cost when compared to current hydrazine-based systems.
This innovative technology is a result of successful...
Data Quality Rating (DQR) allows to assess the level of credibility of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) performed. Furthermore, it allows to identify gaps, drive subsequent data collection and enables fair comparison of systems. This makes DQR calculation one of the most important parameters to be assessed when analyzing the environmental performance of systems and of the underlying data. This...
The current trend and interest in sustainable space is crystallizing the efforts of European space stakeholders. By combining new technologies or new concepts with use cases already identified and considered as business cases (OOS – On Orbit Servicing and ISAM – In-Space Servicing Assembly and Manufacturing) in the short, medium and long term, potential opportunities and applications increase....
The increasing number of space debris in the LEO orbits imposes a significant threat for the space environment. Therefore, mitigation and remedial measures taken against further space debris creation have gained significant importance to provide a safe and sustainable space environment.
D-Orbit’s DeOrbiting Kit (DOK) is an independent autonomous system for LEO missions which will...
The upsurge of innovative and commercial NewSpace ventures and general trends in the space industry suggest a move toward space industrialization, taking space infrastructure and related logistics to new horizons with challenges and opportunities in technology, systems, missions, operations, and business. By and large, these developments and concepts will benefit from collaborative design and...
As set up in Agenda 2025, 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 2030. The ESA Green Agenda contains actions in five different areas that will lead to a more sustainable Agency, notably:
- Area 1: Develop and implement a sustainability strategy for ESA space...
Abstract
Redwire Space Europe (Luxembourg): Jan Dentler
Redwire Space Europe is at the forefront of developing advanced actuation and perception technologies tailored for the clean space industry. As a subsystem provider, we deliver critical solutions that empower mission integrators to execute debris removal, satellite servicing, in space manufacturing and assembly and space domain...
The electrical passivation presentation will provide a rationale for the necessity of electrical passivation and its most common current solutions implemented in the PCDUs. We will also discuss the key challenges associated with the implementation of electrical passivation and examine the market's demands for it in the near future and the possible evolution of electrical passivation solutions...
On 8 September 2024, the re-entry of the cluster-II Salsa satellite was observed successfully approximatly 1500km West of Easter Island from a commercial business jet. We present in this talk the rationale for such an observation mission as well as the layout and design of the experimental setup with 26 lenses at 6 window stations, the preparation based on re-entry break-up predictions and...
Although increasingly signed and soon to be supplemented with a technical handbook, the Zero Debris Charter remains non-binding and not enforceable. If the charter itself cannot mandate compliance, what alternative means of implementation are available? How can policymakers shape frameworks that facilitate a circular space economy and lead towards the aspirational vision of zero debris as...
Dear Clean Space Committee,
My name is Emre Ergene, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Space Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. I am conducting my thesis research in collaboration with Ecosmic. The focus of my research is to estimate the Ballistic Coefficient (BC) of various objects, primarily consisting of space debris. The Ballistic Coefficient is a critical...
In recent years, the focus of the space industry has experienced a trend shift towards space sustainability. However, while many challenges have been identified, there is still a clear lack of commercially viable solutions. To address this issue, our student team “PeriSpace” is participating in the Green Space Challenge of the ESA Business Incubation Center in Reutlingen, aiming to develop a...
Sustainable development based on innovative solutions for existing technologies can be promoted by shifting the resource base of the space industry towards renewable, bio-based raw materials for material-intensive applications and thus enhancing a bioeconomy in space by greener technologies.
Bio- and wood-based materials are promising for the use as a thermal protection system (TPS) material...
The exponential increase of space debris in LEO poses a significant threat to both operational satellites and future space missions. The implementation of electrodynamic tether technology presents a promising solution for the active removal of space debris, contributing to the Zero Debris initiative and enhancing the sustainability of space activities. This study investigates the efficiency...
With increasing use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, the space debris mitigation requirements for their disposal become more and more rigorous, necessitating development of novel technology to ensure satellite’s complete demise during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Design for Demise (D4D) is a design philosophy aimed at minimizing the risk posed by space debris during uncontrolled...
The growing amount of space debris is a phenomenon of great concern to the safe use of space. Despite growth mitigation guidelines, the spatial density of objects in LEO is only predicted to rise. In order to keep operational satellites safe, orbital debris needs to be tracked as best as possible to predict potentially hazardous collisions. Current ground-based observing facilities are limited...
The rapid increase in satellite numbers has heightened the risk of direct collisions and led to the accumulation of dust-sized debris in orbit due to fragmentation events and the gradual degradation of spacecraft surfaces. Accurately characterizing these particles is essential for validating space debris models like ESA’s MASTER and NASA’s ORDEM, which provide reliable predictions for Life...
One of the main challenges that satellites face is the progressive accumulation of debris in LEO. Hence, the necessity to develop new strategies for debris removal, as well as for servicing and refuelling existing satellites to increase their lifespan.
This article proposes an implementation of a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) framework to optimize the path of a chaser satellite, tasked...
CAREER is an educational program funded by DLR aimed at student-led research of RVD maneuvers using a robotic test environment. This project consists of two robotic arms (UR10e) that simulate the relative movement and contact dynamics of two satellites.
The satellites are represented by two EndEffectors, one of which being a passive “Target” while the other is an active “Chaser” satellite....
In-Orbit Servicing and debris removal are two of the most important emerging sectors of the space industry. The ever-increasing amount of space debris necessitates the development of debris removal, servicing, and life extension capabilities. These capabilities rely heavily on novel Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) technologies, notably Vision Based Navigation (VBN) using visual and...
The broad topic of space sustainability is increasingly being discussed within the space sector, especially in Europe, in part thanks to regulations on sustainability reporting and the upcoming European Space Law. Nevertheless, companies nowadays have a tendency to put the emphasis on a single particular chosen aspect of sustainability (e.g. environmental impacts, dark and quiet skies...
Within the last two decades, the number of objects in Earth orbits increased from around 7500 to more than 30000 in 2023. The current satellites heavily rely on one-time use. To prevent further congestion of crucial orbits, more sustainable practices for space use are imperative. Refuelling satellites in orbit extends their lifespan and reduces debris accumulation by decreasing the number of...
Working towards a sustainable future in space requires a multifaceted approach. To realise ESA’s Zero Debris goals, we need to develop compliant spacecraft platforms and demonstrate removal services in parallel. While improving the ability of satellites to remove themselves from orbit is still a key pillar of these efforts, there is a growing need to develop services and technologies to remove...
Enabling a Space Circular Economy by 2050
In the past decade, the booming of new space economy led to the urgent need for Europe to increase the competitiveness and resilience of the European space transportation services on the worldwide market. In this context, ESA has initiated the elaboration of a technical vision for the future of space transportation in Europe: Vision 2030+. Climate change is one of the most pressing issue...
MICE (Mechanical Interface for Capturing at End-of-Life) is a single-part passive grapple fixture designed for enabling the capture and de-orbiting of satellites at their End-of-Life or in a premature malfunction by a Servicing Spacecraft in case the satellites cannot deorbit by themselves.
The latest version of MICE was the Qualification Model (MICE-Q) developed and qualified in 2023 for the...
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has launched the S3D initiative, aimed at advancing the assessment and enhancement of sustainability in space activities. While recent years have seen growing attention to the environmental impacts of spacecraft and launch vehicles, S3D seeks to broaden this focus by integrating economic and social dimensions, transitioning from traditional Life Cycle...
Mr Come BERGER, from the Future Satellites Systems Department of the Observation and Science Domain of Thales Alenia Space in France will present the concept and mission of an orbital Recycling Space Plant involving a solar furnace for material melting, being studied in the frame of the selected mission proposed during the ESA “System Studies for the Circular Economy in Space”...
Abstract:
The "Managed Recycling Orbit operated as a Multi-Agent System" introduces a groundbreaking approach to space debris management. This concept is built on three foundational pillars:
1. Dedicated Orbital Zone: A designated orbit serves as a central hub for aggregating, processing, and recycling space debris, transforming defunct satellites and rocket bodies into cooperative objects...
Workshops on the life cycle analysis of space transportation systems have been held at the University of Stuttgart over the past three years. The workshops offered experts from science, industry and agencies the opportunity to exchange ideas, identify knowledge gaps and develop possible courses of action. The presentation is intended to summarize the results of the workshop and make them...
The qualification of "2D" and "3D" navigation markers against HPCM environmental requirements was successfully completed by the end of 2023. Following this achievement, the industrialization phase has commenced, with ADM producing four sets of markers for the CRISTAL and LSTM HPCM missions. These markers, comprising one 3D marker and 20 2D markers per set, will be installed on the PFM and FM2...
ESA has noted that “a market for in-orbit activities – servicing, rendezvous, assembly, refurbish, manufacturing, and recycling – is both expected and desirable", echoing the sentiment across the sector. The concept of a circular space economy is no longer a blue-sky idea, but the eventual goal of our In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) efforts. Astroscale sees refurbishment...
ADM is planning to establish an ESA-recognized GNC test facility at its premises. The facility would use up the remarkable floor space and internal height of the ADM new project building. The design of this facility will be developed with input from Hungarian and European GNC experts, aiming to meet the needs of the European space industry and to complement existing testing capabilities. Key...
Background: Post-mission disposal is the final phase in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a spacecraft and is the yardstick used to evaluate the environmental impacts of disposal options on human health and the environment.
To date, the leading negative environmental impact identified (in the re-entry phase) is danger to human populations from surviving debris reaching the Earth’s surface....
The LOOP mission, led by Growbotics in collaboration with a consortium, is being developed to demonstrate the viability of a circular economy in space, specifically targeting the refurbishment of a satellite in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).
By showcasing the commercial case for satellite refurbishment and the potential for a circular in-orbit economy, the LOOP mission represents a...
As space activities expand, it becomes increasingly important to assess and mitigate its environmental impact. This study focuses on the environmental impact of in-space propulsion systems, specifically examining the ground-phase life cycle from propellant production to integration into the launcher (cradle-to-gate). Four liquid bipropellant systems representing current trends and future...
The production of propellant is a major contributor to the carbon footprint of a space launch, while recent research indicates the environmental impact of fuel combustion during launches could be more significant than previously thought. Fossil-fuel-free propellants are emerging as promising alternatives with potentially lower environmental impact and cost, including green-hydrogen, which...
The series of EU-funded projects EROSS (European Robotic Orbital Support Services) aims at developing and bringing to space European technologies enabling innovative operations in space, like autonomous robotics and rendezvous.
The project is coordinated by Thales Alenia Space in France, in a core team with GMV in Spain and DLR in Germany, and gathering in total 18 Partners from 9 European...
Addressing Digital Pollution: Strategic Sustainability in the Modern Space Economy
In today's interconnected digital landscape, our constant engagement with the digital sphere has led to a surge in digital pollution. As consumers increasingly grasp the environmental implications of their digital activities, a new awareness is emerging. The burgeoning space economy, evolving towards a...
The growing interest in lunar exploration necessitates new strategies for sustainable resource management, including the recycling of end-of-life (EOL) equipment. Recycling and reuse of such equipment will minimise long-term environmental impact and dependency on Earth- supplied resources. The effectiveness of the recycling process depends on the inherent complexity of the material and this...
The ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy was updated in October 2023 accounting for the new ESA Zero Debris Approach. The new ESA Space Debris Mitigation standard (ESSB-ST-U-007, which exceeds the previous standard ECSS-U-AS-10C Rev.2) specifies design and operational measures that a mission needs to adopt through its lifetime to prevent space debris release and proliferation, control system...
This presentation addresses the challenge of requirement verification and validation for safe close-proximity operations around non-cooperative targets. The outcomes are elaborated in the areas of GNC and Mission Analysis: they have been demonstrated for ClearSpace-1 (CS-1), which was used as a reference mission for rendezvous, capture, and de-orbiting of an non-cooperative target, namely the...
There is no doubt that we are experiencing an exponential increase on the number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Large constellations of satellites like Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper, G60 from Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), and many others are planning to provide low-latency and high speed connectivity to the whole world. They have already surpassed the rest of active...
Whether they assist with space situational awareness, navigation, rendezvous or proximity operations, space-based optical sensors are key technologies for In-orbit servicing missions. Sodern’s versatile visible sensors, namely Auricam line-up and HiCAM, can meet these different IOS missions’ requirements among image quality, resolution or even signal-to-noise ratio.
Auricam is a...
SatHub is one of the four hubs of the IAU Centre for the protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU CPS). SatHub focuses on observation campaigns, brightness data analysis and software curation to improve our understanding of the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy and observers worldwide. That includes online services hosted in concert with...
The exponential increase in satellite deployments into Earth’s orbits over the last decade has significantly augmented space environment congestion. This escalation in orbital traffic has simultaneously led to a marked increase in space debris, posing substantial risks to both operational satellites and future space missions. Consequently, addressing the mitigation of space debris has become a...
The recent addition of large constellations of medium-sized satellites to LEO, and the near-term availability of new launch capabilities (e.g. SpaceX Starship) is indicative of a trend towards a greater number of larger-sized satellites that would be detrimental to dark-sky preservation efforts, and problematic for ground-based astronomy.
Light curve simulators, originally developed for the...
As part of its developments of technology for robust computer vision algorithms applied to Close Proximity Operations in the context of In Orbit Servicing, LMO has recently conducted two test campaigns in the GRALS laboratory at ESA to further validate the rendezvous strategy using a representative mockup of Inmarsat, and selected Chaser trajectories simulation. This talk will present details...
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory has the two largest radio telescopes in the world under construction. Radio astronomy has long enjoyed statutory protection in the form of longstanding ITU radiofrequency spectrum allocation and the establishment of Radio Quiet Zones by national authorities. This latter protection works well for terrestrial conflicts, and allows modern radioastronomy to...
Astroscale has three pillars to achieve the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations: business case, policy, and technology. In working towards a sustainable future, we need to ensure all three of these areas are addressed and understand the impacts changes to one has on the other. This presentation will summarise the recent global efforts made towards...
FDIR and system engineering are transversal disciplines that complement each other. System engineering aims to develop a system with the purpose of behaving in a way that achieves mission objectives and system requirements, while FDIR engineering aims to cover the unwanted behavior which may prevent the system to achieve its goals. FDIR engineering is a viewpoint of system architecture and...
The current presentation focuses on the impact of best practices and guidelines for safe close proximity operations on the conception, the design, and the validation and verification (V&V) of the S/C mission and systems. After introducing the key safety requirements for safe Close Proximity Operations, their impact on the system and mission design will be discussed in details, with a focus on...
The increase in space activity will have the external effect of increasing the amount of space debris and therefore the importance of debris management.
ADR is taking shape through the development of technologies and demonstration missions.
But is there a real market for these services?
ADR services are expected to be very expensive as they involve sending a satellite into orbit to...
