Rising orbital debris endangers sustainable use of space

The increase in orbital debris endangers the sustainable use of space and the benefits of more than US$ 1 trillion in its exploitation expected by 2030, so it is urgent to ensure that all the actors involved in the space market agree on their safe and sustainable use.

With the aim of achieving a sustainable use of space and combating the growing waste, various entities in the sector, including the Spanish engineering company GMV, have presented the international initiative “Net Zero Space”, a platform that involves representatives of any mission space: satellite launchers, manufacturers, operators, civil society, research and academic organizations, space agencies and public actors from around the world.

This coalition urges to address in a way “urgent and consensual” the growing orbital contamination and calls for, by 2030, urgent and concrete actions to mitigate it.

As indicated today by GMV, a world reference in the study, monitoring and prevention of the proliferation of space debris, it is estimated that there are more than a million objects larger than one centimeter in size capable of causing potential damage of different kinds “and the amount dangerously increasing.”

Garbage increasingly pollutes space due to the proliferation of objects that orbit the Earth uncontrollably, particularly in low and geostationary orbits, which are the most interesting to be used and exploited.

Faced with this situation, GMV undertook to improve and promote the use of its collision avoidance services and to continue developing new solutions that guarantee the safety and sustainability of space operations.

“Space is a common good that offers important opportunities and services, as well as notable social, economic, scientific and strategic benefits for all humanity”, indicated the firm, which began working with the European Space Agency (ESA) twenty years ago on object cataloging and collision avoidance activities in orbit.

In 2009, the ESA launched a program to develop technology to monitor space debris and, since then, GMV has participated in more than thirty projects.

Since 2017, GMV engineering has also been operating its Focusoc commercial operations center to provide anti-collision services to more than ten commercial operators and more than 80 satellites.

Until now, they are part of the “Net Zero Space” initiative: Arianespace, Astroescala, CGSTL/Chang Guang Satellite, Clutch Space Systems, CNES, EUSST, Eutelsat, GMV, IAASS, Inmarsat, International Institute of air and space law, Isispace, Planet, Scout, Share my Space, Skyroot Aerospace, SpaceAble and Viasat.