Clean Space Days 2026

Session

General

29 Jun 2026, 14:00

123. A cryopump-based propellant collection system for an Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) satellite in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO)

Esme Griffiths-Nowicki

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), orbits below 450 km, offers significant advantages for high-resolution Earth observation and low-latency telecommunications. Still, atmospheric drag poses major challenges for long-term sustainability and debris mitigation. In clean space initiatives, achieving sustainable, ecological satellite operations is a primary objective. Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion...

41. A Feasibility Study on Active Debris Removal by Insertion into Natural De-orbiting Corridors

Alexandre Marchon

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

The exponential growth of orbital debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has reached a critical threshold, demanding more efficient Active Debris Removal (ADR) strategies than ever foreseen before. This paper introduces a very novel ADR concept that leverages the dynamical properties of natural de-orbiting corridors: resonant orbital regions where the coupled effects of Solar Radiation Pressure...

103. A High-Level LCA Framework for Early Space Systems Engineering

Martin Lemaire (EPFL)

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) provides a strong basis for quantifying the environmental impact of space systems, but its application in early design remains difficult because major parameters are still uncertain, including suppliers, production sites, detailed material inventories, and process-level emissions. This work proposes a \textbf{high-level LCA framework for early space systems...

44. Constellation-Level Effects of Low-Thrust Manoeuvres in LEO Mega-Constellations

Adriana Medina Vega

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

The rapid proliferation of mega-constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has significantly increased the frequency of conjunction events, necessitating robust collision avoidance strategies. Adherence to ESA’s Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Clean Space initiative requires a transition from reactive manoeuvres to proactive ones. The study quantifies the impact of the Collision...

40. Enhancing LEO Collision Risk Management through Machine Learning Calibration of Thermospheric Density Models

Giuseppe Joulianou (University Of Kent)

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

Accurate knowledge of the Earth's thermosphere is vital for a range of space operations, including space traffic management, collision avoidance, re-entry predictions, and orbital lifetime analysis. As Low Earth Orbit (LEO) becomes increasingly congested, precise orbit determination and highly accurate conjunction assessments are of critical importance.

The primary source of uncertainty in...

122. Integrating Autonomous Active Deorbiting Systems to Microsatellites in LEO

Angelica Crone (KU Leuven)

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

To comply with recent space debris mitigation requirements, the post-mission orbital lifetime of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) must not exceed five years. This study evaluates propulsion technologies as end-of-life disposal options for four representative microsatellites, ranging from 6U to 24U CubeSats and a PROBA-1 class platform, operating across different altitudes.

A framework is...

72. Synchronizing Attitude Control and Post-Capture Stability for Non-Cooperative Debris Removal Through Advanced GNC Strategies

Zyad El Aouad (Universidad Europea de Madrid)

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

Effective Active Debris Removal relies greatly on the spacecraft's ability to synchronize its attitude with a tumbling target. Capturing tumbling, non-cooperative debris requires a servicer to perfectly match a target's chaotic spin state before physical contact.

This session breaks down a control strategy that uses relative navigation sensors to "lock" onto the spin states of...

151. Time-Resolved and Trajectory-Dependent Life Cycle Assessment of Satellite Atmospheric Re-entry

Tommy Williamson (University of Strathclyde Aerospace Centre for Excellence)

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

Atmospheric re-entry is an increasingly important yet still underrepresented phase in the environmental assessment of space systems. Although design-for-demise (D4D) strategies are essential for compliance with debris mitigation requirements, they also promote material ablation and the release of chemical species into the upper atmosphere. Current Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches largely...

24. Trajectory optimization for non cooperative RPO (Rendez-vous, Proximity Operations)

Rémi Caresche (Isae Supaero)

01/07/2026, 17:30

Student Poster Session

Non-cooperative rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) are becoming a central challenge in orbital mechanics due to the rapid growth of space traffic and debris, as well as the increasing demand for on-orbit servicing, inspection, and active debris removal missions. Unlike cooperative scenarios, non-cooperative targets do not provide navigation data, attitude information, or dedicated...