Towards Global Space Sustainability – Astroscale’s Vision for Active Debris Removal Services Speaker Dr Jason Forshaw MEng MS (Stanford) PhD CEng MIEEE SMAIAA European R&D Manager, Astroscale Holdings United Nations World Space Forum Vienna, Austria 20th November 2019 ©Astroscale Space Debris Threatens Space Sustainability 1950 2018 Astroscale: An International Company Solving a Global Problem • Astroscale’s mission is to secure long-term spaceflight safety and orbital sustainability for the benefit of future generations • Our services include End of Life (including large constellations) and Active Debris Removal Growing Team, Increased Fundraising and Expanded Global Presence 80 140 D2: $32M 70 72 120 Funds raised: 60 55 D: $50M $140 million 100 50 Astroscale Singapore Astroscale Japan - Tokyo Astroscale UK - Harwell May 2013 May 2015 May 2017 Global staff: 80 40 95 people 60 30 32 C: $27M Staff members Staff 20 20 40 15 B: $20M 10 5 20 US$) (in raised Money A: $7M 1 Astroscale US – Denver 0 April 2019 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Personnel Fundraising ©︎Astroscale 3 Astroscale is actively addressing the orbital debris problem Business Case Technology & Policy & Capability Regulation Business – Business Lines End of Life (EOL) Active Debris Removal (ADR) Services “Don’t add any more debris” “Remove debris that is already there” Potential customers Constellations, Private Satellite Operators Governments, International framework Target Objects - Satellites that have failed in orbit or reached - Environment Critical Objects end of operational lifetime - Existing debris - 50~500kg - 500kg+ - Business continuity and maximize revenue - Demonstrate commitment to orbital - Adhere to best practices and public sustainability demands - Assure spaceflight safety for all operators Rationale Global Responsibility Technical concept Semi-cooperative approach and capture Non-cooperative approach and capture ©︎Astroscale 5 Business – Market Demand • Astroscale is tracking 120+ 80 satellite constellations. 70 • The number of satellites in LEO is expected to increase 60 to over 10,000 satellites within the next 10 years. 50 • The number of satellites that 40 need to be removed depends 30 highly on satellite failure rate. 20 • Demand = SOM (service obtainable market) * failure 10 rate 0 • ~10-50 satellites per year Market Demand for ADR (# Satellites) 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 could be removed from orbit Year by Astroscale’s end-of-life service. Low Failure Rate High Failure Rate ©︎Astroscale 6 Business – Actions for Space Sustainability Source: European Space Agency, presentation of H. Krag, Head of ESA’s Space Debris Office at SWF Summit for Space Sustainability, June 26, 2019 ©︎Astroscale 7 Business – PMD Rate Guarantee • Research shows that future Industry standard – 40-50% of satellites PMD rates of 90 to 95% (ESA, typically are disposed right now Industry standard 45 Satellites that don’t fail and removed NASA), in addition to removal from orbit by the satellite operator of several key debris assets per Does not reach Satellites that fail and cannot be year, are required to maintain Satellite Operator 85 10 5 removed space sustainability. PMD target Satellites removed by Astroscale • Many different service options Satellite Operator Reaches PMD 85 10 5 are possible. +Astroscale target • Proposed service: Astroscale Number of satellites 45 85 95 100 de-orbited removes failed satellites such PMD that an operator reaches a target pre-determined PMD rate. 98% • Example: An operator has a 96% 94% constellation with 100 Effective PMD (No Action) 92% Year 6: Year 8: Year 11: satellites and a 95% PMD 18 sats 16 sats 16 sats Effective PMD (ADR) 90% removed removed removed target, assuming 15% satellite PMD Effective 88% 95% PMD Target failure rate. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Year ©︎Astroscale 8 Technology & Capability – I ELSA-d Mission • Servicer: 180 kg • Client: 20 kg with docking plate (DP) • DP allows prepared servicing of client using proprietary magnetic capture system. • Launch in 2020 • Signed with Glavkosmos/GK Launch Services, Soyuz 2 • SSO (500-600 km), LTAN 10.30-11.00. Client (with DP) • Full phases of operations that would be necessary for a full EOL service, including client search, inspection, capture, re-orbit and de-orbit. Servicer ELSA-d Mission Concept ©︎Astroscale 9 Technology & Capability – II Docking Plate (DP) Towards sustainable space: DP enables constellation providers to “future-proof” their satellites ELSA-d AIT presently on-going in Tokyo ©︎Astroscale 11 Policy & Regulation – I • Sample objectives that align with Astroscale’s mission to “secure long-term spaceflight safety and orbital sustainability for the benefit of future generations”: • Ensure and enhance the long-term sustainability of outer space activities • Promote international cooperation and understanding to address natural and man-made hazards that could compromise operations • Developing national and international practices and safety frameworks service. • It is incumbent upon private space operators to be good stewards of the space environment. Industry must play a role in implementing 21 LTS Guidelines. ©︎Astroscale 12 Policy & Regulation – II • Astroscale is involved in a variety of ways for a generating best practices for the sustainability of space operations. • Astroscale is on the executive committee for an industry-led initiative seeking to establish best practices and operations standards for rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) and on-orbit servicing (OOS). June 2018, UNISPACE+50 • Our CEO is a member of the WEF Global Future (UNCOPOUS) Council on Space Technology who helped develop the mandate for a WEF SSR. • Astroscale is mid-way through licensing ELSA-d: • Obtaining a mission license for a debris removal mission is unique and will open a path for future services that will support the long-term sustainability Space Sustainability Rating of space. June 2018, Astroscale presentation • Key considerations: in-flight safety, spectrum, to IADC (Inter-Agency Space insurance. Debris Coordination Committee) ©︎Astroscale 13 The Path Forward ELSA-d Mission Working on ESA Sunrise Programme Worked on past JAXA ADR The world’s first commercial with OneWeb towards a future large studies and presently exploring demonstration of ADR constellation EOL service future work options with JAXA New Totsuka Ground Station, Prime developer for UK National Driving Global ADR Policy & Regulation Yokohama, Japan IOS Facility, Catapult, Harwell ©︎Astroscale 14 www.astroscale.com.