ESA is committed to deliver on the promise of Zero Debris by 2030. To ensure compliant satellites can be designed and built in time, ESA is supporting industry during this technologically challenging transition.
On 25 June 2024, three major European space industry players each signed a contract with ESA to develop large low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite platforms that conform to Zero Debris standards.
The prime contractors will design and develop zero-debris platforms for large LEO satellites as a first step towards building zero-debris production lines.
“It is essential to invest into the development of zero-debris compliant spacecraft platforms now. Platforms and their onboard debris prevention measures will have to become more failsafe to preserve the endangered lower Earth orbits for future use,” says Holger Krag, Head of Space Safety at ESA.
“Working together with three long-standing industrial partners allows us to deliver on our promise to put a stop to future debris creation.”
The contracts were signed by Francesca Cirillo on behalf of Airbus Defence and Space, Christiane Bergemann for OHB and Pierre Dandre for Thales Alenia Space. Also in the photo are Rolf Densing, Director of Operations at ESA and Tiago Soares, Clean Space lead engineer at ESA.