Multidimensional Analysis of Future LEO Environment & Associated Challenges for Space Sustainability
Session
Technical Poster Session 5
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
For 66 years the space sector has experienced tremendous growth. More than 13,000 satellites have been successfully launched into orbit, of which 4,600 are smallsats launched in the last decade alone. Untapped market potential and the anticipation of ongoing growth in smallsat launch rates is undisputed as early constellations implement replenishment cycles and budding start-ups and national security programs are deployed at scale. Given this growth, in the presence of existing satellites and the 130+ million debris objects on-orbit, satellite operators are faced with the challenge of operating in a complex environment and addressing space sustainability.
Multidimensional Analysis of Future LEO Environment & Associated Challenges for Space Sustainability
Utah State University, Logan, UT
For 66 years the space sector has experienced tremendous growth. More than 13,000 satellites have been successfully launched into orbit, of which 4,600 are smallsats launched in the last decade alone. Untapped market potential and the anticipation of ongoing growth in smallsat launch rates is undisputed as early constellations implement replenishment cycles and budding start-ups and national security programs are deployed at scale. Given this growth, in the presence of existing satellites and the 130+ million debris objects on-orbit, satellite operators are faced with the challenge of operating in a complex environment and addressing space sustainability.
