12 Countries Sign the Zero Debris Charter

12 nations have signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council, solidifying their commitment to the long-term sustainability of human activities in Earth orbit.

1. In addition to the 12 countries, the European Space Agency also signed the Zero Debris Charter as an International Organization (IGO).

Background:

1. Origin: The Charter, an initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA), was unveiled at the ESA Space Summit in Seville in November 2023.
2. Response to Member States' Encouragement: It came in response to ESA Member States' urging the Agency to adopt a "Zero Debris approach" for its missions and encourage partners and other actors to follow suit.

Unique Aspects:

1. Unprecedented Collaboration: The Charter is the first initiative of its kind, bringing together a diverse range of space actors worldwide with the shared goal of eliminating debris creation by 2030 and ensuring the long-term viability of space activities.
2. Ambitious Objectives: It aims to establish far-reaching guiding principles and ambitious yet feasible technical targets to guide the development of a Zero Debris roadmap, driving global efforts to mitigate and remediate space debris.

Key Features:

1. Non-Legally Binding Agreement: The Charter is a non-legally binding agreement that promotes a community of proactive actors working collaboratively towards jointly defined targets for 2030.
2. Specific Targets: The Charter sets out several targets, including limiting the probability of a mission generating space debris to below 1 in 1,000 per object.
3. Post-Mission Disposal: It establishes a 99% success target for post-mission disposal, potentially involving external means when necessary.
4. Information Sharing and Coordination: It encourages transparent information sharing and space traffic coordination to minimize collision risks.

Implementation Strategies:

1. Technological Development: ESA will focus on developing groundbreaking technologies for satellite end-of-life disposal, in-orbit servicing, and active debris removal to implement the Charter effectively.
2. Regulatory Collaboration: ESA will work closely with institutions responsible for regulatory aspects to ensure alignment with the Charter's objectives.

What is Space Debris?

1. Space debris is any human-made object in orbit not serving a useful purpose.
2. Space debris includes old spacecraft, rocket stages, and micro-debris.
3. Much of the debris is in low Earth orbit, within 2,000 km (1,200 miles) of Earth’s surface.
4. Some debris can be found in geostationary orbit 35,786 km (22,236 miles) above the Equator.

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