Astroscale Signs Zero Debris Charter to Support Sustainable Space Operations

Astroscale Signs Zero Debris Charter to Support Sustainable Space Operations

Astroscale, the UK subsidiary of Astroscale, a leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability, has announced that the company has signed the Zero Debris Charter, demonstrating its support for a zero debris future in space. Managing Director of Astroscale UK, Nick Shave, signed the Charter at a ceremony in Berlin, Germany, on June 6, 2024.

“We are very pleased to sign the Zero Debris Charter, which represents a major step towards achieving a safe and sustainable space environment,” said Nick Shave. “Sustainability is at the heart of Astroscale’s vision and mission. Every innovation we develop is for the protection of the space environment to ensure that future generations can continue to utilize and explore space. Working collaboratively with other organizations in the global space ecosystem is essential for this future vision to remain possible. We hope the Charter will help in shaping the essential global consensus that is needed on space sustainability.”

The Zero Debris Charter was established by a community of proactive space sustainability advocates working together towards ambitious and measurable targets for 2030. Astroscale was one of over 40 organizations actively engaged in developing the Charter, which contains high-level guiding principles and specific, jointly defined targets to achieve zero debris by 2030.

Astroscale Statement on the Zero Debris Charter

"We support the Charter’s guiding principles and collaborative approach to achieving these targets within our abilities and constraints, including minimizing the unintentional generation of space debris and preventing the intentional release of debris during space activities. We commend the recognition of the importance of identifying a suitable aggregate probability threshold for space debris generation and casualty risk for constellations in low Earth orbit. Furthermore, we echo the commitment to enhancing routine and transparent information sharing and strengthening global space traffic coordination."

"We also acknowledge the challenges to the progressive achievement of the targets by 2030. We subscribe to the idea that no technical requirements are imposed or created based on an interpretation of the Charter, which is intended as technology neutral. We should, however, continue to encourage the development and adoption of relevant technologies and performance indicators that contribute to the achievement of the targets, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, as highlighted in the Charter."

"In addition, percentage-based targets for successful post-mission disposal can be integrated into reliability analyses, but consensus on methods of calculating these percentages and what the targets represent are still needed. Further, we believe that static percentage-based targets (e.g., 99%) may disincentivize operators from designing and scaling their disposal plans according to the environmental impacts of their space system. Thus, we find percentage-based targets alone to be insufficient in the practical pursuit of a sustainable future for space and will highlight this during discussions on the Zero Debris Technical Booklet that aims to act as a guide for achieving the targets in the Charter."

"We are dedicated to pursuing the timely clearance of orbits after mission end-of-life, striving towards the highest probabilities of success possible, including by external means and with technologies for active disposal where necessary. Bearing in mind the measurable impact of the space activity to the environment, and the current levels of adherence by all operators, we believe that this probability of post-mission disposal success should meet at a minimum the recommendations of existing best practices and guidelines for space debris mitigation and remediation, striving towards zero debris."

"In signing the milestone document, we endorse the Zero Debris Charter and are committed to achieving the right balance between technology development in space with protecting the space environment."

Click here to learn more about ESA's Zero Debris approach.

Publisher: SatNow
Tags:-  SatelliteLaunchGround

GNSS Constellations - A list of all GNSS satellites by constellations

beidou

Satellite NameOrbit Date
BeiDou-3 G4Geostationary Orbit (GEO)17 May, 2023
BeiDou-3 G2Geostationary Orbit (GEO)09 Mar, 2020
Compass-IGSO7Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)09 Feb, 2020
BeiDou-3 M19Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M20Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M21Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M22Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 I3Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M23Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019
BeiDou-3 M24Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019

galileo

Satellite NameOrbit Date
GSAT0223MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0224MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0219MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0220MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0221MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0222MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0215MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0216MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0217MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0218MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017

glonass

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Kosmos 2569--07 Aug, 2023
Kosmos 2564--28 Nov, 2022
Kosmos 2559--10 Oct, 2022
Kosmos 2557--07 Jul, 2022
Kosmos 2547--25 Oct, 2020
Kosmos 2545--16 Mar, 2020
Kosmos 2544--11 Dec, 2019
Kosmos 2534--27 May, 2019
Kosmos 2529--03 Nov, 2018
Kosmos 2527--16 Jun, 2018

gps

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Navstar 82Medium Earth Orbit19 Jan, 2023
Navstar 81Medium Earth Orbit17 Jun, 2021
Navstar 78Medium Earth Orbit22 Aug, 2019
Navstar 77Medium Earth Orbit23 Dec, 2018
Navstar 76Medium Earth Orbit05 Feb, 2016
Navstar 75Medium Earth Orbit31 Oct, 2015
Navstar 74Medium Earth Orbit15 Jul, 2015
Navstar 73Medium Earth Orbit25 Mar, 2015
Navstar 72Medium Earth Orbit29 Oct, 2014
Navstar 71Medium Earth Orbit02 Aug, 2014

irnss

Satellite NameOrbit Date
NVS-01Geostationary Orbit (GEO)29 May, 2023
IRNSS-1IInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)12 Apr, 2018
IRNSS-1HSub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO)31 Aug, 2017
IRNSS-1GGeostationary Orbit (GEO)28 Apr, 2016
IRNSS-1FGeostationary Orbit (GEO)10 Mar, 2016
IRNSS-1EGeosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)20 Jan, 2016
IRNSS-1DInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)28 Mar, 2015
IRNSS-1CGeostationary Orbit (GEO)16 Oct, 2014
IRNSS-1BInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Apr, 2014
IRNSS-1AInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)01 Jul, 2013