To support the development of innovations strengthening the protection of EU space infrastructure.
To develop technologies for space debris mitigation and active debris removal and concepts for in-space recycling of dysfunctional orbital assets.
The ever-growing orbital population of satellites and space debris poses increasing challenges to space infrastructure. The density of space objects amplifies the risk of orbital collisions, unexpected fragmentation events and re-entries that may result in the degradation of space assets, hindering the services they deliver and, thus making Earth orbits unusable.
Debris growth is escalating with
More than 2,500 non-operational satellites
36,500 space debris pieces bigger than 10 cm.
1 million pieces of debris between 1-10 cm. in Earth’s orbits
Collision avoidance manoeuvres for satellite owners has doubled and is expected to grow. Continuous trajectory changes of spacecraft will result in insufficient fuel for deorbiting, critical end of life spacecraft manoeuvres and any other remediation or in-space mobility activities. In-space recycling of dysfunctional orbital assets will provide an opportunity for space assets re-utilisation and in-space refuelling. This challenge addresses the long-term emerging need for green, compact and affordable de-orbiting solutions and in-space recycling of space debris. See work programme, page 46.
Other Pathfinder projects
ALBATOR
ecr-bAsed muLticharged ion Beam for Active debris removal and oTher remediatiOn stRategies
Osmos X – FR
AstrAware
An on-board dynamic vision sensor suite for enchanced satellite self and situational awareness
Politecnico di Milano – IT
DEXTER
Debris EXtraction Tools for Extra-terrestrial Recycling
Cranfield University – UK
gEICko
GEcko based Innovative Capture Kit for uncooperative and unprepared Orbital assets
Technische Universität Berlin – DE
SPIDAR
Space debris mapping with photonic integrated circuit Lidar
Aalto-korkeakoulusäätiö sr – FI
STORM
Solar weather forecasting mission
Neutron Star Systems UG – DE
Stratolaser 