An introduction to space circular economy activities at ESA.
Astroscale are working to develop an In-orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service. Their proposed mission will develop capabilities to refurbish and upgrade satellites, moving away from the current single-use culture in space. Astroscale will focus on both the technological and commercial feasibility of the project.
Growbotics are preparing the foundations of circular on-orbit economy through a commercial refurbishment mission of a spacecraft in GEO. They will decide between competing mission concepts and build the business case for their selected mission, as well as identifying how design for refurbishment will change the design of satellites in the future.
Thales Alenia Space’s mission has the main objective of enabling an orbital recycling capability, both by identifying the materials and methods for on-orbit recycling as well as determining the impacts of ‘design for circularity’ initiative in the broader space ecosystem. They will also propose a preliminary design for a Recycling Space Plant system.
A wrap-up of the presentations, Q&A, and discussion of next steps
