Design for Demise Days 2027
Organised in collaboration with DLR
ESA Clean Space and DLR are pleased to announce the Design for Demise Days 2027 (D4Days 27), taking place from 23 to 25 March 2027 in Cologne, Germany.
As the LEO population continues to grow, ensuring the safe disposal of space systems at the end of their operational life is becoming increasingly important. Design for Demise (D4D) has emerged as a key approach to reduce on-ground casualty risk by enabling spacecraft to demise during atmospheric reentry.
D4Days aims to bring together the key European stakeholders involved in the development, qualification, and integration of D4D technologies, from early-stage concepts to operational spacecraft solutions. The objective is clear: to accelerate the adoption of D4D technologies and practices in future space missions.
The workshop will address the technical, technological, regulatory, and programmatic aspects required to enable the implementation of D4D solutions. The sessions will cover the following topics:
- D4D technologies and materials
- Demisable spacecraft equipment
- Modelling and simulation tools
- Reentry analysis and casualty risk assessment
- Qualification, verification, and testing approaches
- Flight implementation and in-orbit opportunities
- Regulatory and programmatic perspectives
- Atmospheric impacts and sustainability considerations
- Emerging challenges and future research
The event is intended to present the latest developments, but also to foster collaboration and networking across the D4D community, identify opportunities for technology maturation and integration, and to help bridge the gap between D4D developments and its adoption in future missions.
FREE D4D training session will be included as part of the event. The training is particularly aimed at organisations and participants who are new to D4D and would like to gain an introduction to the topic and its application to spacecraft and equipment design and testing.
Note: For participants specifically interested in the environmental effects associated with atmospheric reentry, ESA is also organising a dedicated Atmospheric Impact Workshop. Please see 3rd Workshop - Atmospheric Impacts of Spacecraft Launch and Re-entry
Participation in D4Days 2027 and the D4D training is free of charge.
Call for Abstracts
Authors from industry, agencies, research organisations, and academia are invited to submit abstracts for presentation at D4Days 2027.
Contributions covering any aspect of Design for Demise are welcome, with particular interest in presentations describing ongoing developments, qualification activities, flight demonstrations, lessons learned, and practical implementation approaches for future missions.
The abstract submission process is now open.
Practical Information
Due to venue capacity constraints, attendance will be limited to 200 participants.
Participants are kindly requested to bring their own laptop, as the workshop will include interactive exercises designed to support practical engagement with the topics covered.
As catering is arranged in advance, participants shall confirm their participation and inform the organisers as soon as possible if they are no longer able to attend, no later than registration deadline.