Academics from the University of Manchester have developed a first-of-its-kind modelling framework. It’s a new tool to help reduce the risk of satellite collisions and reduce space debris. This creative new tool directly links federal mission performance requirements to risk of collision. It addresses a momentous challenge in our increasingly dynamic environment of space exploration.
The modelling framework integrates two domains that have been traditionally separate. Mission performance requirements include all the vital details such as the minimum number of satellites required to perform a given task. Further, they dictate the altitudes these satellites should fly at. The tool combines collision risk assessments with regulatory requirements from LEO to GEO and beyond. This combined effort results in a far more proactive and holistic approach toward the management of satellites.
PhD researcher John Mackintosh from the University of Manchester, who is heading the research team. In his remarks, he focused on how momentous this change truly is. He stated, “Our research addresses what is described as a ‘space sustainability paradox’, the risk that using satellites to solve environmental and social challenges on Earth could ultimately undermine the long-term sustainability of space itself.”
The need for more Earth-observation satellites is increasing to monitor and implement the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We need to be careful that these missions don’t contribute to the worsening problem of space debris. Among those was a new tool to improve space sustainability. Specifically, it does this by minimizing the risk of satellite collisions, which can create hazardous debris fragments in orbit.
The modeling framework, they are sure, will provide satellite operators with critical actionable intelligence. These insights will enable them to better balance mission performance with safety considerations. By addressing collision risks in different orbital environments, they hope to create safer pathways for satellite operations while continuing to fulfill global needs for environmental monitoring and data collection.