ESA & European Companies Agree To 2030 "Zero Debris" Agreement

The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus Defence and Space, OHB, and Thales Alenia Space, have announced plans during the Paris Air Show to collaboratively establish "ambitious and meaningful targets" to address the growing concern of orbital debris.

The group intends to develop a "Zero Debris Charter" with the primary objective of preventing the generation of new debris, particularly in low Earth orbit. The details of the charter will be formulated later this year by ESA and the participating companies, with a focus on creating specific targets to be achieved by 2030. The finalized charter is expected to incorporate these targets by the end of the year.

By 2030, those who adhere to the charter will commit to deorbiting their satellites at the end of their operational lives or contracting with active debris removal service providers to facilitate their deorbiting.

Concerns over the escalating growth of orbital debris, also known as the Kessler Syndrome, were expressed by executives during the event. Jean-Marc Nasr, head of space systems at Airbus Defence and Space, stated that the current trajectory of debris accumulation in congested orbits is deeply concerning. The gravity of the situation was further highlighted by Lutz Bertling, a board member of OHB, who shared that an unidentified European astronaut expressed concerns about the feasibility of human spaceflight beyond the 2030s due to the increasing risks posed by debris.

The Zero Debris Charter, although nonbinding, is intended to serve as a catalyst for future regulations. The charter draws parallels to a nonbinding set of debris mitigation recommendations published by the World Economic Forum on June 13, which were endorsed by 27 companies including Airbus, OHB, and Thales. However, participants acknowledged that the charter is just one step towards achieving binding international regulations to minimize orbital debris creation.

Advocates hope that adherence to the charter's principles will become a prerequisite for procuring data or information from satellite providers, thus establishing a demand for certain standards. They stressed the need for European leadership in this area while acknowledging that without global rules, European industry may face an uneven playing field compared to its competitors.

One major challenge in implementing international regulations is the slow pace of development, particularly within United Nations organizations.

The charter's goal of zero-debris rules in place by the end of the decade may still be considered too slow by some. Certain nations and players currently do not prioritize debris mitigation policies at all, It is only through effective international adherence and regulation that control over the orbital debris problem can be achieved.