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INTRODUCTION
For the purposes of this paper, Active Space Debris Removal is defined as the external disposal of obsolete spacecraft (such as satellites and rockets) or spacecraft fragments that have broken off.
The space industry’s perception of the levels of risk associated with system development and operation may shift as active debris removal (ADR) systems continue to advance. At the moment, the focus of the industry is on ways to reduce debris. However, in recent times, a rise in commercial and government space actors has revived ADR system development and discussion.
A number of organizations are at the forefront of the development and testing of ADR systems. In the past few years, a number of demonstrations have taken place, and many more are planned for the upcoming years. Although these developments hold promise for the growth of an ADR marketplace, there are a number of technical, operational, and political obstacles that must be resolved first.
The safe de-orbit, maneuvering into graveyard orbits, or complete destruction of the debris are all considered forms of disposal in this context. This paper discusses both the safe de-orbit of complete or nearly complete satellites or rocket bodies and the removal of small pieces of debris within the umbrella of ADR.
The Global Active Space Debris Removal Market accounted for $XX Billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2023 to 2030.
ClearSpace-1 will be the first space mission to remove debris from orbit. To help establish a new market for in-orbit servicing and debris removal, the mission is being procured as a service contract with a startup-led commercial consortium.
A consortium led by Swiss startup ClearSpace, a spin-off company founded by an experienced team of researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) who study space debris, will be invited to submit their final proposal following a competitive process before the project begins in March of next year.
The converging ocean currents have resulted in the accumulation of garbage that was not properly disposed of over a large portion of the Pacific Ocean, creating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Even with pollution regulations in place, many actors have contributed to this garbage patch and will continue to do so. The fact that polluters are more well-known for orbital debris is a key distinction between the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and orbital debris.
Even though there are fewer actors for orbital debris today, that number is increasing. Additionally, we generally know who the launching states are for large objects. As a result, specific actors can effectively be assigned liability and even contractually transferred between them.
