// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
End of Mission
The official conclusion of a space mission, which can occur due to successful completion of objectives, spacecraft failure, or planned deactivation.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
End of Mission (EOM) signifies the formal termination of a space mission's operational phase, which may result from successful completion of primary objectives, depletion of consumables, system failure, planned deorbiting, or transition to an extended mission phase.
SYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Mission conclusion
- Decommissioning
- Mission termination
- Final phase
USAGE NOTE
The spacecraft entered its end of mission phase after successfully completing its primary scientific goals.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to End of Mission.
A company specializing in on-orbit servicing and active debris removal (ADR), developing spacecraft like ELSA-d to rendezvous with, capture, and de-orbit defunct satellites and other space debris.
Selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the first-ever active debris removal mission, ClearSpace-1. The company is developing robotic spacecraft to capture and safely de-orbit space junk.
A Northrop Grumman company that provides in-orbit satellite servicing. Its Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) docks with aging satellites to provide propulsion and attitude control, extending their mission life for several years.
A space logistics company that offers a deployment service for satellites which includes a rapid decommissioning solution. Their ION Satellite Carrier can deploy customer satellites and then perform a final propulsive maneuver to de-orbit itself at mission conclusion.
A manufacturer of small satellites that integrates end-of-life technologies, such as deployable drag sails and dedicated de-orbit propulsion systems, into its platforms to ensure compliance with space debris mitigation guidelines.
Developer of the Terminator Tape, a small device attached to a satellite that deploys a long tape at the end of its mission. The tape creates significant atmospheric drag, causing the satellite to de-orbit and burn up much faster than it would naturally.
Focused on creating an in-space refueling infrastructure. By developing 'Gas Stations in Space' with standardized refueling ports, they enable satellites to be refueled, extending their operational lives and preventing premature end-of-mission due to fuel depletion.
An on-orbit servicing and space logistics company developing a fleet of serviceable spacecraft. Their platforms are designed for missions like debris removal, satellite life extension, and relocation, directly addressing end-of-mission challenges.