ESA Clean Space

🌟 Join the Zero Debris approach: New Deadline for Small Satellite Platforms! 🚀   European Space Agency - ESA is calling on small satellite integrators to help shape the future of sustainable space. As the need for space debris mitigation grows, the next generation of small satellite platforms must evolve to meet Zero Debris requirements, ensuring compliance with upcoming standards by 2030. 🚀 This is your chance to support ESA in implementing its Zero Debris approach, help maturing platform designs and identifying the technology gaps needed for fully demisable, reliable, and compliant small satellite platforms (50–500 kg). By contributing, you’ll help build the roadmap for Zero Debris and ensure these platforms are ready for future missions. 🛰️   📅 New Deadline: 1st November 2024 🔗 Submit your proposal here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dCx9jVqU   Let’s work together to develop platforms that ensure a safer orbital environment for generations to come. 🌍   #ZeroDebris #Sustainability #SmallSatellites #Future ESA Space Safety ESA Technology

We're proud to contribute to ESA's Zero Debris approach with our in-orbit servicing mission RISE, paving the way for a sustainable and cleaner space environment!" 🚀🌍 #CleanSpace #Sustainability #SpaceDebris #InOrbitServicing #ZeroDebris

🌍 Clean Space Days 2024: Day 3 Recap and wrap up We’ve just wrapped up the third day of Clean Space Days 2024, and what a journey it has been! 🚀 Key Outcomes from Day 3 🌱 Ecodesign: Simplified LCA approaches are a major point, underlining cost-effective methods to significantly reduce environmental impact by targeting key drivers. Dedicated sessions on Launchers & Atmospheric Effects, Greener EcoDesign Concepts and a Taskforce Progress Meeting have reinforced the shared commitment to integrate Ecodesign principles and harmonized approaches from the earliest phases of space projects. These discussions also deepened our understanding of atmospheric impacts from launch and re-entry, helping to shape more sustainable practices for future space missions.  🛰️ Zero Debris: In the design for removal session the first-generation solution for controlled re-entry was presented, and the focus on standardizing docking features was emphasized, presenting the business and operational benefits it implies. Efforts to ensure "dark and quiet skies" were also outlined, addressing the increasing impact of satellite constellations on both optical and radio astronomy, and discussing mitigation strategies like observation campaigns and light pollution simulators. The community is striving to balance space sustainability with minimal interference to astronomy  🦾 IOS: Implementing a Space Circular Economy could play an important role in guaranteeing the sustainability of orbits, maximizing the usage of space assets and protecting the Earth’s environment by limiting the exploitation of raw materials on-ground and lowering the number of satellites launches and re-entries. Innovative systems and mission architectures are necessary to make the space circular economy a reality, requiring a commercial case to be developed as well as a legal and regulatory framework established that supports a wider range of in-orbit services. 💡 Wrap-Up: As we say goodbye to the Clean Space Days 2024, the message is clear: collaboration is key. Together, we are making space more sustainable for future generations. But this is just the beginning! The progress we’ve made in space traffic management and the circular economy in space shows that the future is bright, and we’re ready to take on new challenges and opportunities.   🎉 A big thank you to all who participated in making Clean Space Days 2024 a success! We can’t wait to see you all again next year. 

🌍 Clean Space Days 2024: Day 2 Recap Yesterday marked another day of insightful discussions and knowledge-sharing at Clean Space Days 2024.  🚀 Key Outcomes from Day 2 🌱 Ecodesign: Industry presented their first results and lessons learned implementing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Copernicus, Galileo and other commercial satellites and launch vehicles. Primes and LCA practitioners are working hand in hand to enable understanding and reduction of environmental impacts embedding Ecodesign criteria from early phases and developing a common understanding of simplified LCA. After establishing the current tools and strategies for Ecodesign in space, methods to improve LCA framework were introduced with updates of the LCA Handbook and database.  🛰️ Zero Debris: A key point raised by speakers and the audience was the reliability of de-orbiting technologies, such as drag sails and propulsion systems. Due to the increasing need to monitor space debris and spacecraft, another major focus was the importance of accurate tracking systems, whether through radars or small retroreflectors. Additionally, the presentations delved into new decision-making systems for space traffic management, alongside advancements in technologies for attitude control and de-orbiting kits.  🦾 IOS: Advancements in debris removal, technology development and in-orbit servicing were presented, including missions that encompass different approaches. e.Inspector focuses on close-proximity debris inspection, while InSPoC-1 aims to standardize RVD capabilities for future space logistics. Astroscale is advancing satellite refuelling, refurbishment, and life extension services, crucial for a circular economy in GEO. Moreover, RISE mission with D-Orbit and on another side Orbit Fab are working towards enabling refuelling infrastructure, promoting long-term sustainability and reducing the need for satellite deorbiting and replacement. We also had the opportunity to attend two Keynotes and closed the day with a poster session 🪧in which innovative ideas and contributions from across Europe were presented. A special thank you to ESA Academy for sponsoring 3 students to present their work in this poster session. 🔥Airborne Observation of the Cluster-II Salsa Re-entry: In a collaborative effort, researchers from across the globe flew 1,500 km west of Easter Island aboard a jet packed with 26 lenses. It was a hugely emotional moment when the team finally spotted the satellite re-entering in the images. Their success not only offered new insights into re-entry processes but also highlighted the power of international collaboration. 📈 Pathways towards Zero Debris: Legal Transformation, Economic Incentives and the Role of Young Space Professionals: the focus was on how to turn the vision of zero debris into reality. Possible ways forward were presented such as shaping legal frameworks, creating economic incentives and empowering young professionals to drive this change.  

🌍 Clean Space Days 2024: Day 1 Recap! What a fantastic start to Clean Space Days 2024! Yesterday, we kicked off the event at European Space Agency - ESA hosting more than 325 participants representing 218 different organisations and coming from 30 different countries. 🚀 Key Outcomes from Day 1: - Zero Debris is gaining momentum, the Charter is about to reach 100 signatories. ESA is leading by example with its 2023-2025 roadmap, focusing on platform-level changes and evolving requirement-building. Looking ahead, key developments in satellites, launchers, and debris mitigation technologies will be critical, supported by ESA's policy updates through 2030. - Ecodesign: ESA is working on the implementation of Life Cycle Assessment and Ecodesign, ensuring the green agenda for 2030 remains on track. Technical and programmatic guidelines for Ecodesign are being developed in parallel and shaped in consultation with industry experts through the Ecodesign Taskforce, promoting collaboration across the sector. - In-Orbit Servicing: As part of the Zero Debris Approach for a sustainable and safe space environment by 2050, ESA encourages implementing a ‘circular economy’ that ensures long-term orbital sustainability through in-orbit servicing, in-orbit assembly, in-orbit manufacturing, and eventually in-orbit recycling. ESA’s vision for space circular economy, is considered in past, present, and future ESA activities that recognise the capabilities and aspirations of European industry to work towards a circular space economy and will help ESA build consensus around the steps required to build the circular space economy. We also had the opportunity to dive deeper into specific sessions, including: 🔥 Design for Demise: D4D is necessary to make satellites compliant to Space Debris requirements. Since it is a multi-disciplinary approach, industry is developing activities at system and component level, while trying to reduce the uncertainties in testing and simulations. Some of the key advancements include the integration of high- and low-fidelity simulations, and work on correlating theoretical models with real-world test data. Industry collaboration is fundamental to achieve fully demisable platforms by 2030. 🌱 Lessons Learned on EcoDesign: This session reflected on the progress made since the last Clean Space Industry Days. ESA, together with industry partners, has been refining the technical framework for Ecodesign through the CDF study and the Ecodesign Taskforce. The session highlighted both the successes and challenges in implementing sustainable design principles, laying the foundations for progress in future missions. 🌟 Looking Ahead This is only the beginning! With more expert presentations, poster sessions and engaging discussions on the horizon, keep posted to see the exciting ideas that will be shared in the coming days. 

Clean Space Days 2024: Just a few days to go! 🚀 The Clean Space Days 2024 are approaching, and we can't wait to host you! 📅 Tuesday, October 8th, until Friday, October 11th 📍ESTEC, The Netherlands. 📌 Don't forget to bring your ID/passports and if you plan to come for the first session, we recommend arriving 1 hour earlier for the badge collection as this might take some time. The event schedule is available! Alongside presentations there will be a poster session, a networking event, and a dinner. The full agenda and the presentations with their speakers can be found here: 🍃 Ecodesign Presentations:  https://lnkd.in/ev6N7WAZ ✨ Zero Debris Presentations: https://lnkd.in/egj6ximF 🛰️ In-Orbit Servicing Presentations: https://lnkd.in/ewaCfWzr 📃 Poster Session: https://lnkd.in/e-D6mpgU   We look forward to work together towards a cleaner, more sustainable future in space. See you next week at the Clean Space Days 2024! 🚀 #CSD2024 #CleanSpace #Sustainability #ZeroDebris #SpaceSafety #ESA

🚀 Exciting News from ECSSMET 2024! 🌍✨ we are proud to have participated in this year's European Conference on Spacecraft Structures, Materials & Environmental Testing (ECSSMET), where Sara Sanchis Climent had the opportunity to present the research developed by Alexandre Achille Looten as part of his PhD thesis, conducted within the European Space Agency - ESA Network Partnering Initiative (NPI). 🎓 Over the past four years, Alexandre's work - completed in collaboration with EPFL, ESA, and industry partners like #IRS, ClearSpace, #Icotec, #BeyondGravity, #Belstead, and #Bcomp - has focused on advancing Design for Demise for spacecraft structural panels. This effort aims to enhance the demisability of satellites and reduce space debris, a critical step toward making space operations more sustainable. 🔍 By exploring novel composite materials and systems, such as carbon and flax fibre reinforcements and CF/PEEK fasteners, the research represents a critical step towards ensuring that satellite components burn up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. This project is a great example of how academia, industry, and ESA can work together to drive sustainable space innovation! We are proud to support and contribute to such vital research efforts to ensure cleaner, more responsible space activities. 🌱🔧

Join for the Space Debris Mitigation Standard Training! We are pleased to invite you to a specialized training session on ESA's latest efforts in space debris mitigation. The event will take place on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 14:00 to 17:00 at ESTEC and online. 🌌 About the Training: In response to the growing concerns about space debris and the urgent need for sustainable space activities, European Space Agency - ESA has introduced the “Zero Debris” approach. This initiative aims to drastically reduce the production of debris in Earth and Lunar orbits by 2030. During the session, we will cover: - An overview of ESA’s updated Space Debris Mitigation Requirements (ESSB-ST-U-007). - New measures including stringent orbital clearance, design-for-removal features, and best practices for collision avoidance and space traffic coordination. - Insights into the updated guidelines for Space Debris Mitigation Compliance Verification (ESSB-HB-U-002). - A dedicated Q&A session addressing frequently asked questions and audience inquiries. 🗓 Event Details: Date: October 7, 2024 Time: 14:00 - 17:00 Location: ESTEC and online 🎟 Registration: Participation is free, but registration is required. Secure your spot by October 1, 2024, and let us know if you plan to attend in person or online. 👉 Register Here: https://lnkd.in/eEvjV4xy For specific questions to be discussed during the training, please submit them in advance. 📧 For inquiries, contact: space.debris.mitigation@esa.int

Practicing #debrisremoval techniques: with MICE now in space, we need to send a CAT! Last week, our partners at AVS Added Value Solutions successfully launched their LUR-1 mission with a variety of exciting new technologies onboard, including our joint technology demonstration of MICE (Mechanical Interface for Capture at End-of-life). Congratulations! We’re very excited to have MICE, a hardware satellite interface for debris removal, ready to be tested in space. This technology demonstration will show how inactive satellites can be removed from orbit in a timely manner. 🐭 #MICE? Anyone who has experienced the hassle of different charging cables before they were standardised to USB-C knows: for efficient interoperability of hardware, you need matching interfaces. Think about removing satellites from space: #spacedebris mitigation guidelines outline that a satellite should be able to manoeuvre itself out of valuable orbits, but what if it's unable to? Wouldn’t it be practical if we skip the phase of competing technologies and determine what is the ‘USB-C port’ for grabbing a satellite in space? That’s where MICE comes in. It’s a point of attachment put onto the LUR-1 satellite with the purpose of having a standardised interface where CAT (CApTure Payload Bay) can easily grab it. Six navigation aids have also been installed to support the rendezvous and capture process by helping determine the distance, orientation and any tumbling of the spacecraft. 😺 #ESA is sending CAT ESA Clean Space (https://lnkd.in/e-YHtaSV) works on the standards and technologies necessary to mitigate and prevent space debris. With MICE successfully making it to space, we want to take the next step and send a CAT to demonstrate the working of the interface by the time LUR-1 reaches its end of mission and safely remove the satellite from its low-Earth orbit. 📸 Credit: AVS Added Value Solutions  

🚀 We have an incredible opportunity for tertiary education students! 🌍✨ The ESA Education Office is offering sponsorship for up to 3 university students to attend the Clean Space Days 2024, from 8-11 October at ESTEC in The Netherlands! This event is the place to be for anyone passionate about the sustainability of space missions, featuring cutting-edge discussions on eco-design, zero debris, and in-orbit servicing. 🛰️ Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting event! Apply before the deadline on 24 August, 23:59 CEST. 📅 👉 Find all information here: https://lnkd.in/erBTVeQk #CleanSpaceDays #StudentOpportunity #ESA #SustainabilityInSpace