Introduction

• Calum Turner (ESA)
• Antonio Caiazzo (ESA)

An introduction to space circular economy activities at ESA.

Astroscale

• Zaria Serfontein (Astroscale)
• Adrian Dumitrescu (Astroscale UK)

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

• Portia Bowman (Growbotics Space Ltd)

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.

Kinetik

• Maximo Roa (Kinetik)

Kinetik aim to revolutionize the manufacturing and assembly processes giant or complex structures in orbit, such as giant solar sails, solar farms, antennas or reflectors. By using robotic fabrication technologies, their mission aims to simplify and expedite the assembly of space infrastructure as well as reducing the time, labour, and risks associated with traditional assembly methods.

Thales Alenia Space

• Gautier Durand (Thales Alenia Space)

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.

Q&A and Wrap-up

• Antonio Caiazzo (ESA)
• Calum Turner (ESA)

A wrap-up of the presentations, Q&A, and discussion of next steps