// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Disposal
Disposal refers to the end-of-life plan for a spacecraft, which involves safely removing it from orbit to prevent it from becoming space junk. This might mean burning it up in the atmosphere or moving it to a graveyard orbit.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Disposal, in space operations, is the planned end-of-life maneuver for a spacecraft, typically involving de-orbiting for atmospheric re-entry and destruction, or relocation to a graveyard orbit (e.g., GEO super-synchronous) to mitigate space debris proliferation.
BACKGROUND
The aerospace industry of the United Kingdom is the second-largest national aerospace industry in the world and the largest in Europe by turnover with a global market share of 17% in 2019. In 2020, the industry employed 116,000 people.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Decommissioning
- De-orbit
- End-of-life
- Graveyard orbit
USAGE NOTE
Responsible disposal is a growing concern for long-term space sustainability.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Disposal.
A company specializing in on-orbit satellite services, including end-of-life (EOL) and active debris removal (ADR). Their ELSA-d mission successfully demonstrated rendezvous and magnetic docking capabilities for future debris capture.
A Swiss startup selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the first active space debris removal mission, ClearSpace-1, which will capture and de-orbit a piece of a Vega rocket adapter.
A UK-based company that led the RemoveDEBRIS mission, which successfully tested several active debris removal technologies in orbit, including a net, a harpoon, and vision-based navigation.
Through its subsidiary SpaceLogistics, Northrop Grumman develops servicing vehicles like the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) and Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) that can dock with satellites to provide life extension, and can also relocate them to a disposal or graveyard orbit at end-of-life.
An Italian space logistics company that developed the D-Orbit ION Satellite Carrier. This platform not only deploys satellites but also features an integrated solid rocket motor for a final, controlled decommissioning burn to ensure it does not become space debris.
Developer of the Terminator Tape, a small device that attaches to a satellite and deploys a long conductive tape at the end of its mission. The tape increases atmospheric drag, causing the satellite to de-orbit and burn up in the atmosphere much faster than it would naturally.
A multinational space agency spearheading the Clean Space initiative to reduce the environmental impact of space activities. ESA is funding and managing missions like ClearSpace-1 and developing technologies for active debris removal and designing for demise.
Japan's national space agency, which is actively involved in debris removal research and development. JAXA is leading the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) project, partnering with private companies like Astroscale to test and mature removal technologies.