Investments in future technologies – technologies related to space awareness and space sustainable development
Author: Space Economy Academy
Space ecosystem overview
Just as we care about the sustainable development of our planet, we need to start thinking about the sustainable development of space. As our knowledge of space expands, we are increasingly aware of its importance. Space provides us with more than we could imagine, and we use its resources every day, often without realizing it. Satellites, which are launched almost every day, provide us with data such as imaging of the Earth’s surface, communications, navigation, thermal imaging, information on weather and changing climate. Thanks to satellite data, anyone with a phone with internet access can reach any place in the world.
Satellite imagery helps assess the scale of destruction after disasters such as floods, earthquakes or armed conflicts, which translates into better operational and financial planning. These are just a few examples of a wide range of applications that can improve the quality of life on Earth and help to protect our planet. With the decreasing size of satellites and the emergence of the trend of launching so-called CubeSats(1) , one place in near space has become exceptionally crowded – Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a belt extending from about 160 to 2000 km above the Earth. (2)
This belt is a very popular target among companies and organizations with their own satellites. This is related, in short, to the fact that launching satellites to LEO requires less energy compared to higher orbits. In addition, for communication purposes, it provides high bandwidth and low latency. Finally, satellites and other space objects such as space stations are more accessible to astronauts and for repair purposes. (3) For this reason, the LEO satellite market has significant growth potential, and is expected to grow from $12.6 billion in 2024 to $23.2 billion in 2029.(4)
As the number of satellites and other objects in LEO increases, the need for integrated sustainable solutions also increases.
Space sustainability and awareness
Space sustainability is the practice of conducting space activities in a manner that ensures the long term viability of the space environment. This concept involves preventing the creation of new threats to satellites and other spacecraft and ensuring that space remains accessible and safe for future generations. Key components of space sustainability include Space Traffic Management (STM), Space Traffic Coordination (STC) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
STM involves the regulatory and operational coordination of space activities to avoid collisions and interference between spacecrafts. It encompasses the establishment of rules, guidelines, and protocols that govern the use of orbits and the behavior of satellites and other space objects. STM also includes the development and implementation of technologies and systems that allow for real-time tracking and maneuvering of spacecraft to prevent potential conflicts. STC, on the other hand, emphasizes non-regulatory cooperation among space-faring entities to promote safety, stability, and sustainability in space operations.
STC involves collaboration between governments, international organizations, and private companies to share data, best practices, and strategies for space traffic management. SSA is more of a concept that includes the two previous tools. It means capabilities to detect, track, and understand objects in space, such as active satellites, space debris (remnants from launchers or satellites that have become inoperable), and other objects that could pose a risk to space operations. SSA is essential for predicting and preventing collisions, managing space traffic, and responding to potential threats. Within SSA, the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) is a specific subset focused on monitoring space objects and predicting collision risks.
In addition, SSA includes monitoring of space weather and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Space weather refers to the environmental conditions in space that can affect satellite operations. NEO monitoring involves tracking asteroids and comets that could pose a threat to Earth or space activities, allowing for timely warnings and possible deflection efforts.(6)
Challenges of space situational awareness implementation
Implementing a comprehensive and effective SSA system faces several challenges. One of the main challenges is the lack of international regulations and standards. Although countries like the United States and members of the European Union have made progress in STM and SSA, these efforts are still in their infancy and require global cooperation. Additionally, financial barriers are significant; without sufficient funding, it is impossible to scale up SSA capabilities to the necessary level. Another challenge is the lack of data sharing and coordination between stakeholders, which hampers the effectiveness of global space monitoring efforts. Despite initiatives like the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), which includes agencies such as ESA, NASA, JAXA, and DLR,(7) international collaboration remains limited.
One reason why above challenges should be overcome as soon as possible is increasing number of space debris. Space debris, particularly smaller fragments, poses a serious risk as they are large enough to disable or destroy spacecraft components. Larger fragments can cause catastrophic collisions, especially in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), resulting in the creation of hundreds to thousands of new debris fragments. Currently, the estimated number of debris objects is 34,000 greater than 10 cm, 900,000 from 1 cm to 10 to cm, and 128 million from 1 mm to 1 cm.(8)
Despite our efforts, current technology is unable to track the smallest, millimeter-sized fragments that could cause catastrophic damage.(9) .Estimated number of objects as function of object size.(10) To address these challenges, continued investment in research and development is needed to create more advanced and reliable SSA solutions. Funding from both public and private sectors, through various initiatives, prize awards, or programs, is beginning to serve as a solid foundation for these efforts.
Examples of space sustainability funding programs -How to invest in the space industry?
Europe
In Europe, sustainable space initiatives are enabled by various funding programs. Horizon Europe, a R&D funding program, supports innovations to enhance the protection of EU space infrastructure, specifically targeting technologies for space debris mitigation, and active debris removal. In addition, the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder funds deep tech projects from TRL 1 to 4, offering up to EUR 4 million in grants, coaching, mentoring, and networking.(11)Finally, ESA plans to allocate EUR 273.4 million in 2024 for space safety and sustainability, including initiatives like the Zero Debris Approach for Earth’s and lunar orbits. (12,13 )
United States
In 2023, NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office received $15 million for space debris mitigation, while the U.S. Space Force’s Space Surveillance Network (SSN) was allocated over $100 million for space situational awareness (SSA) and traffic management.(14)
Private sector
The private sector also recognizes the importance of space sustainability, with venture capital firms like Seraphim Space Ventures II and others such as Space Capital and Telesystem Space investing in areas like propulsion, cybersecurity, and SSA.(15 )
Examples of funded solutions
Technological advancements in spacecraft and space debris monitoring have made strides, yet they still only scratch the surface of the vast amount of material orbiting Earth. The US Space Surveillance Network manages to track about 28,160 larger debris pieces in LEO. (16) Meanwhile, LeoLabs, a company specializing in integrated SSA solutions, has enhanced visibility for over 20,000 objects in LEO.(17)
Emerging companies are also joining the fight against space debris. For instance, Spaceflux, part of Seraphim Space Ventures II’s latest cohort, uses a global, proprietary network of optical sensors to deliver highly accurate, reliable, and timely SSA data.(18). Another company, Canada-based NorthStar, recently secured VC funding to develop commercial SSA services aimed at tackling the critical challenges facing satellite operators today.(19) On a broader scale, the NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is developing the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) to provide essential SSA data and services to both civil and private space operators.(20) The version 1.0 should be operational in September 2024.
That initial version of TraCSS will be open to a limited number of beta testers, who will use it through the existing Space-Track.org system. Space Force. The beta users will get data generated every four hours. (21) However, monitoring space debris is just the beginning. As the number of satellites—and the debris they leave behind—continues to grow, LEO is becoming increasingly congested. In such a crowded environment, the likelihood of collisions rises dramatically. If the situation worsens, it could become nearly impossible to navigate through the LEO belt to reach higher orbits and beyond.
This looming crisis has sparked a wave of initiatives aimed at cleaning up space. One notable effort is ClearSpace-1, an ESA-backed mission set to launch in 2025. (22) As technology demonstration, ESA target to remove the Proba-1, a 94-kg satellite launched in 1998.(23) Astroscale, another early player in space debris removal, recently secured funding for a 2024 demonstration mission, likely to target a OneWeb satellite for deorbiting.(24). As the race to clean up space intensifies, these pioneering efforts represent our best hope of preventing a future.
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References
1. https://spacenews.com/exponential-growth-of-cubesats-may-be-tapering-off/
2. https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Types_of_orbits
3. https://www.comarch.com/telecommunications/blog/leo-able-to-beat-the-world-and-space-in-2023/
4. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/leo-satellite-market[1]252330251.html?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=paidpr
5. https://geoxc-apps.bd.esri.com/space/satellite-explorer/#
6. https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/
7. https://iadc-home.org/what_iadc
8.https://iadc[1]home.org/documents_public/view/search_order/eNortjI0sVJy1EsuSk0sSU1RSEktTlayBlwwS3cG0g~~/search_field/eNortjI2tlJy 1CsuTcpKTS7RdtTLS8xNBVIlielAMjk_ryQ1r6RYyRpcMAypDUU~/page/1/id/291#u
9. https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program/center-of-excellence-for-collaborative[1]innovation-coeci/coeci-news/nasa-seeks-solutions-to-detect-track-clean-up-small-space-debris/
10.https://iadc[1]home.org/documents_public/view/search_order/eNortjI0sVJy1EsuSk0sSU1RSEktTlayBlwwS3cG0g~~/search_field/eNortjI2tlJy 1CsuTcpKTS7RdtTLS8xNBVIlielAMjk_ryQ1r6RYyRpcMAypDUU~/page/1/id/291#u
11. https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-pathfinder_en
12. https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Funding
13. https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Clean_Space/ESA_s_Zero_Debris_approach
14. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nasa-fy-2023-agency-fact-sheet.pdf 15. https://seraphim.vc/news/seraphim-space-generation-space-usa-accelerator-announces-mission-13-cohort-launches-new[1]academy-to-further-support-spacetechs-brightest-stars/
16. https://esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris/About_space_debris
17. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leolabs-raises-29-million-to-deliver-enhanced-ai-powered-insights-for-space[1]operations-302059070.html#:~:text=LeoLabs%20has%20transformed%20space%20operations,low%20Earth%20orbit%20(LEO)
18. https://spaceflux.io/data-services/
19. https://www.linkedin.com/company/northstar-earth-and-space/
20. https://www.space.commerce.gov/traffic-coordination-system-for-space-tracss/
22.https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Clean_Space/ESA_commissions_world_s_first_space_debris_removal
23. https://spacenews.com/major-changes-approved-for-clearspace-1-mission/
24. https://www.bsr.org/en/emerging-issues/sustainability-in-space-the-next-frontie