ESA–David Ducros, 2016

ESA aims to completely prevent generation of space debris by 2030

This Space News was published on Mon, 16.01.2023 – 10:41 CET, covering ESA

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Over the next few years, more than 10,000 new satellites will be launched into orbit. This will make space increasingly scarce, especially in the lower orbits. Countless pieces of debris will further reduce the available space. In response to the catastrophic deterioration of the situation, ESA has initiated the "Zero Debris Approach".

What it is about

According to experts, the "point of no return" has already been reached with regard to space debris. This means that the amount of debris will continue to increase even if the launch of objects into space were to be completely stopped. However, that seems as unlikely as a moon mission did 100 years ago. The European Space Agency (ESA) has therefore set itself the goal of completely preventing the generation of debris in important orbits.

Evolution of the number of objects in low-Earth orbit over 200 years for different scenarios;
© ESA Space Debris Office

Study as a baseline for less space debris

Already in the fall of 2022, a study was conducted in the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) at the ESA Technical Center (ESTEC). Representatives from ESA's Earth Observation, Navigation, Technology, Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, Science, and Space Transportation programs participated. Also present were representatives of industry and operators, as well as some 270 other experts from ESA, industry, government agencies and academia as observers.

The study's objectives include providing the most accurate situational awareness possible, developing recommendations, providing an initial roadmap of required actions, and presenting a schedule for phased deployment. It also recommends, among other things, mandatory active debris removal, clearance of major orbits within 5 years of mission end, and improved collision avoidance. Technologies are already being developed under ESA's Clean Space initiative to ensure that ESA satellites can reliably reach end-of-life without producing debris (typically through deorbit or reorbit).

To enable the active disposal of satellites, HPS, for example, is working on corresponding technologies. As recently as mid-December 2022, the company announced that the ADEO braking sail it had developed had passed its first test in space.

Maintenance in orbit: target acquisition;
© ESA

Technical recommendations for implementing the zero debris approach

Recommendation	Activities
Definition of valuable orbits	Extend orbital protection to other Earth orbits, e.g., the orbits of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) satellites, e.g., GPS, Galileo
Guarantee for successful disposal	Improve the probability of successful self-disposal Prepare for disposal Removal services
Improve orbital clearance	Reduce time left in protected regions below 5 years* Improve clearance in other Earth orbits
Avoid in-orbit collisions	Improve collision avoidance strategy Cumulative probability of collisions after EoL < 10^-3 Share maneuver data Improve trackability
Avoid internal break-ups	Mandatory passivation features > 99 % probability of successful passivation*
Prevent intentional release of space debris	Prevent release of launcher related objects and interference with valuable orbits
Improve on ground casualty risk assessment	Standardize models and methods for assess of demise Impact on ground of launcher related objects
Guarantee dark and quiet sky	Mitigate impacts on ground astronomy
	* final numerical values must be consolidated

Overview of the technical recommendations proposed by the ESA CDF team in the frame of the study on implementing a Zero Debris approach

To completely avoid the generation of space debris by 2030 is a noble goal. To achieve it, the next step is to begin both studies and technical development. The plan is to be able to provide the necessary technologies and norms within the next seven years.

ESA Clean Space

Header Image Credit: ESA–David Ducros, 2016

Written by M. Weissflog

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