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DRAMA Workshop on probabilistic re-entry modelling
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Europe/Amsterdam
Virtual
Virtual
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Description
The Workshop
After a series of successful workshop editions (the modelling workshop in March 2021, followed by the DRAMA workshops in 2022 and 2025), we are organising a virtual workshop this time to:
- exchange on and become aware of the community activity in the domain of probabilistic re-entry modelling.
- offer dedicated sessions to learn about the DRAMA software, and engage with the developers and experts on the detailed aspects of analyses we do with the DRAMA & MASTER tools, as part of the third edition of our DRAMA clinics.
The workshop will begin with a webinar on probabilistic re-entry modelling, with strong focus on open discussions, followed by a session on how to apply that in practice with DRAMA's SARA tool. On the second day, various clinics will be offered for the individual tools and subdomains (ARES/collision avoidance; OSCAR/disposal assessments; MIDAS/small debris risk assessments; etc.)
As a result of the on-going stakeholder interaction, the workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss with users on various aspects on how analyses are performed, what may be still missing, and which developments to take in view of the evolving space sector. We invite everyone directly or indirectly affected by the modelling efforts and involved in activities ranging from the studying of the space debris environment, over mission design to policy decisions to participate!
Concept
We believe that addressing space debris modelling and mitigation activities through a participatory process is more likely to be accepted as a reference solution by the community. At the same time, when stakeholders with various knowledge, skills and resources are facilitated to give creative and critical input which is then translated into action, a culture of shared responsibility and ownership is being established, further reinforcing the consent on models and methodologies applied by the community.
The event will be in virtual format due to very limited room availability at ESOC in Darmstadt, and additional meeting information (incl. connection details) will be provided at a later point. We will aim to accommodate as many time zones as possible. Participation in the workshop is free of charge.
Background
Every satellite put into orbit today is exposed to the space debris environment for the time it is being operated but also during the ensuing disposal phase, which may add many more years of on-orbit presence. The environment is only expected to grow in terms of object numbers, especially in orbital regions that are already strongly affected by space debris pollution today. This means that space missions will be more difficult to operate by today’s standards (e.g. having to address more close encounters) and collisional breakup events, mainly between non-operational objects, are more likely to occur with time. This trend is exacerbated with the dramatically increased launch activity over the last few years and the deployment of large satellite constellations.
Space debris risk assessments targeting primarily the share of small non-trackable objects are informed by space debris models, such as the European Meteoroid and Space Debris Terrestrial Environment Reference (MASTER) model. In order to assess compliance with those recommendations, a set of software tools has been developed since the early 2000s and bundled under the Debris Risk Assessment and Mitigation Analysis (DRAMA) suite, which relies significantly on MASTER's background population. The DRAMA (and MASTER) user community has grown considerably within the past few years. In the exchange with engineers, operators, students, regulators and many more, a vision has been drafted by ESA’s Space Debris Office (SDO) team on how all those different perspectives and use-cases can be aligned towards a state-of-the-art application as a next evolutionary step in the space debris mitigation process. Through the creation of a single framework combining the different DRAMA tools; a move towards digital engineering; maximum compatibility with latest standards; and enabling as well as strengthening the community’s connection, the Debris Mitigation Facility (DMF) idea was born.
ESA has always played a major role in leading many of the research activities related to space debris mitigation, at the same time recognising the significant contributions by other institutions and the coordination efforts primarily by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). With space activities mostly conducted by public entities for many decades, ESA and other agencies developing space debris models, associated debris risk and mitigation analysis frameworks, as well as compliance verification means, were most of the time assuming the role of the customer and the user simultaneously. Over the past two decades the roles have shifted significantly, especially in view of the on-going commercialisation of space, and many new entities to get involved in space activities. Continuing the maintenance and the development of the MASTER and DRAMA model and tool suite, the Space Debris Office has recognised that it remained the customer while the user roles have been distributed all over the globe.
Contact
Registration
Registration to the DRAMA Workshop 2026
