Approaching a new era in orbital debris mitigation: a holistic overview of economic and environmental factors

Abstract

The number of orbiting bodies has increasingly grown in an unrestricted and unregulated manner over the last decade, and one collision can trigger a cascade effect that may affect the access to space for a long time span. To aid in the mitigation of such problem, the arrival of on-orbit servicing brings hope into the panorama, setting its foundations in the arising of the New Space economy. Recently, several proofs-of-concept have been demonstrated and the economic interest in this sector, along with its implications in asset liability, has risen supported by the maturation of space technology and reduced launch costs. Among the wide range of servicing options is active debris removal by de orbiting the spacecraft into the atmosphere. However, the effect of spacecraft incineration on Earth´s atmosphere is yet lightly studied, and the long-term impact on the sustainability of the mesosphere remains unknown. This study presents an overview of de-orbiting techniques in maturation, the market size, the implications of systematic and continuous usage of that technique in the atmosphere, and how it will allow for a new approach to end-of-life obligations for spacecraft operators.