Sustainable Biz Magazine - Magazine - Page 38
Space Sustainability
Find answers to questions about space junk, the risk to
satellites in orbit, and how space sustainability can help, as
well as the UK Space Agency's work to address these issues.
pace plays an increasingly crucial role
in our daily lives, and the issue of space
debris looms large on the horizon.
Imagine a scenario where everyday services
like TV, navigation, weather forecasting,
and online banking are disrupted due to a
satellite collision. This is a rising concern
and why the UK government is taking
bold steps to mitigate the risks associated
with space debris by investing in national
capabilities and international cooperation.
Scale of the debris challenge
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human-made debris in orbit around our
planet which is why we work to promote
the responsible use of space. This is very
wide ranging and achieved through a
combination of regulation, development
of sustainability standards, technological
advancements, missions like debris removal,
and robust surveillance and tracking
services that provide timely warnings for
satellites in imminent danger as well as
warnings if debris is predicted to fall on UK
territory.
Statistical models estimate that there are
approximately one million pieces of space
debris measuring between 1 cm and 10 cm,
with a staggering 130 million more pieces
between 1 mm and 1 cm in orbit. Of these,
around 36,500 objects larger than 10 cm
are actively tracked, with 31,010 already
catalogued. These include relics of the past
such as old satellites, spent rocket bodies,
and fragments from previous collisions.
Risk to active satellites
UK commitment to tackling space debris
Active satellites that provide vital services
here on Earth are at risk of collision with
other satellites and the huge quantity of
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The UK, in accordance with the National
Space Strategy, is ramping up its efforts
in space sustainability. This includes two
Active Debris Removal Phase B mission
studies which were awarded to Astroscale
and ClearSpace in September 2022 (totalling
£4 million). These will help the UK Space
Agency decide which mission concept to
take forward to a fully-fledged design and
launch phase, culminating in 2026 with a
demonstration of the nation’s capability to
rendezvous, dock with, and deorbit two
defunct UK satellites.
S USTAI N AB L E B I Z MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2023
Astroscale: Securing Space Sustainability
Ten years ago, Astroscale’s CEO and
Founder, Nobu Okada, made a promise to
himself that he would find a solution to the
space debris issue by the end of 2020. A
decade on, over 500 people – from engineers
and mission operators to project managers
and support staff – have joined Nobu on his
quest, working in the UK, France, Israel,
the USA and Japan. With solutions ranging
from managing satellites that have reached
the end of their life, to removing large space
debris objects, to future refuelling and
recycling services, Astroscale is developing
innovative and scalable solutions across the
spectrum of in-orbit servicing. A first mover
in the rapidly growing in-orbit servicing
industry, Astroscale is blazing a trail
towards a safer space environment for future
generations.
The UK Space Agency is funding Astroscale
to continue developing its technology and
capability to remove unprepared inactive
satellites from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The
Cleaning Outer Space Mission through
Innovative Capture (COSMIC) will harness
Astroscale’s Rendezvous and Proximity