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Feasibility study of Active Debris Mitigation for Mega Constellations

Wed, 02/01/2023 - 17:23
Start Date: 
2017
Programme: 
Discovery
End Date: 
2018
Programme Reference: 
15/099
Country: 
France
Contractor: 
Thales Alenia Space
Status: 
Closed
Description: 

The Thales Alenia Space study team completed a 13 month contract to study the feasibility of Active Debris Removal within mega-constellations. Within the Clean Space initiative, ESA searches for proactive answers to the environmental challenges which are faced both on Earth and in space. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has already highlighted the important topic of mega-constellations, which represent a step change in the future space environment due to the proliferation of small satellites. The study addresses the end-of-life disposal techniques considered for mega-constellations and the potential of Active Debris Removal solutions.

Application Domain: 
Generic Technologies
Technology Domain: 
11 - Space Debris
Competence Domain: 
10-Astrodynamics, Space Debris and Space Environment
Keywords: 
ADR
Space debris
Megaconstellations
Executive summary: