What might sustainability of the GEO region look like?

Abstract

Sustainability in space is often discussed, but as a community we are only gradually learning what it actually means. To inform this understanding, a set of three parallel projects ran at Cranfield University (Oct 2020 to Mar 2021) to develop a scenario of sustainable use of the geostationary orbit region. The three projects were to develop mission designs for (a) a Scavenger spacecraft equipped with tools, actuators and sensors to perform rendezvous with selected satellites at their end of life, to harvest selected parts and components (i.e. solar panels, radiators, antenna reflectors), store and deliver them to the Recycler for refurbishment or recycling, (b) a Recycler space station located in GEO, capable of receiving parts and materials obtained by the Scavenger spacecraft and performing a range of inspection, recycling and repurposing operations on them, and (c) a candidate customer mission: a huge communications satellite based on the Airbus VASANT (VASt ANTenna) concept, with two antenna arrays, each 35 m square, sized to be able to communicate directly from GEO to mobile phone users at Earth's surface. Some of the features highlighted by these studies are (a) the technical challenges of reusing parts from old satellites: modularity and design-for-reuse seem to be key enablers, (b) the advanced robotics and autonomy implied by the on-orbit operations, (c) the challenge of long-term orbit control without excessive propellant consumption, and (d) although the technology is challenging, there are major non-technical challenges for the business case and for aspects such as the legal use of debris, liability for accidents, and compliance with any regulations. Sustainability is challenging, but nature leaves us no alternative.