The world in general is working to stop the rapid descent from the earth’s environment. However, in the space sector, the products of a single use that only reign. The advent of megaconstellations has accelerated, in fact, the rate at which the space industry burns through resources, changing large satellites with a useful life of decades to cheaper birds designed to expire in a few short years.
The disposable approach worries some researchers, since it is too aluminum Burning in the atmosphere These days, threatening to cause a New child or environmental disaster In the coming decades. But what can we do? Should we reverse the space revolution and put a lid on what we can do in space? Or could a circular economy, life extension, recycling and reuse be the solution to the dirty side effects of the space industry?
Proponents or orbit service and fuel refueling Praise the potential of technology. But most analysts are still cautious: without strict environmental regulations, the expected cost of orbit may not attract satellite Operators to change to reusable technology and mass.
Dave Barnhart, executive director of the Aerospace Company based in California, Arkysis, began to develop concepts of recyclable satellite technology about 15 years ago as part of a project that was overcome Darpa (The Advanced Defense Research Projects). He and his colleagues investigated how to establish a satellite recycling installation in Geostationary orbit – The region about 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) on the surface of the earth where satellites appear fixed on a place over Ecuador.
“We wanted to know although we can use pieces of old Geo satellites to recreate new ones, because the Mass is already there,” Barnhart told Space.com.
The geostational ring is home to some of the largest and most exempt satellites. In addition to that, the long distance between Land And this orbit makes the geo missions rockets With a lot of fuel to reach its destination.
However, Arkysis, the Barnhart company co -founded in 2015, is focusing on Low terrestrial orbit (Leo) – The Zumbido region closest to Earth to altitudes of approximately 1,200 miles (2,000 km). Arkysis hopes to establish a service in orbit and refine deposit called Puerto in Leo. The main objective is to lead a green revolution in this region, which gives rise to thousands of tons of dangerous Spatial debris Every year.
“To date, everything we have designed to go to space has been a mission, a life,” Barnhart told Space.com. “It is ordered or crazy. All other domains on Earth, we maintain, keep, grow. Not in space.”
In 2023, Arkysis assured a $ 1.6 million From United States Space Force To test the satellite assembly in orbit using the port demonstration module: a basic construction block of a garage and service station in scalable orbit. The company wants to launch the first component of this orbital deposit next year, a last mile transport device called Cutter, which is designed to help satellites to dock with the garage.
In 2027, the main port module, a hexagonal structure of about 9 feet (3 meters) wide, will join the cutter in orbit to test how the mechanical interfaces of the two work together in space. The port, in addition to serving as a fuel tank, will arrive with a supply of useful components and charges that could join Wern-Out satellites to give them a new lease of life.
“Today, everything in a satellite is done on the ground, and the satellite is launched with a completion date,” said Barnhart. “We want to change that to allow extensions of both and the business bridge. We want to add new income flows after the launch. You can do it if you can add something, change in orbit or seal itet itet or abd itet itt ite satellite toy to body”
The cameras or antennas could be replaced by the most powerful that are developed, worn batteries could be changed to the new and fuel tanks would do so Be filled.
Everything makes sense on paper, but Dafni Christodoulopoulou, an analyst analyst of the analysis company Analysis Mason, warns that if satellite operators are inclined to divide their disposable services. Leo is currently dominated by small and relatively cheap satellites, he says, that it can be replaced cheaper than they can be treated and maintained.
“At this time, we hope that orbit services have a cost that could be quite high for operators of Small satellites“Christodoulopoulou told Space.com.” It is possible that operators are not interested in these services, because the price of building a new satellite may not be higher than that of a service mission. “
Barnhart agrees that it is likely that the incipient service industry in orbit in front of resistance not only of the operators but also of satellite manufacturers, who could feel threatened by the idea of reuse and extension of life.
“Every time you want to make a big change like this, it will be a threat,” said Barnhart. “Satellite manufacturers earn money by building more satellites to throw. They may take time to see that adjusting satellites with interfaces that allow them to receive service, they could actually add some coolity.”
Even so, Christodoulopoulou believes that the service in orbit will make a difference in how things are done in space, and also to the state of the orbital environment.
“The number of satellite releases is not expected to decrease, so there will be a great need for constellation management, flexibility, elimination and life extension,” he said. “I think that services can definitely help prevent the Accumulation of spatial debris and maintain long -term sustainability in the orbit. “
The United States government certainly seems to think that the extension of life is the way to follow. In addition to financing the Arkisis experiment, the space force also finances the Tetra-5 and Tetra-6 missions to test fuel replenishment technologies in orbit in space. The two missions, designed to test hardware developed by Orbit Fab, Astrocal and Northrop Grumman will be launched in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
In addition, intensive geopolitical tensions are increasing the need for a rapid implementation of new systems in space, which, according to Barnhart, could be addressed more quickly with service systems such as scratch on building.
“If there is a new threat that has identified bone, you may need a new type of sensor or a new useful load to observe it,” said Barnhart. “If we can increase the satellites that the government has already presented and provide them with a new capacity, a new sensor, we can address the threats much faster.”
Christodoulopoulou believes that the new regulations designed to protect the environment and curb air pollution related to satellite resentments could help move the needle to move towards a less disposable culture in the use of space.
“There must be few changes,” said Christodoulopoulou. “There must be more awareness among satellite operators to understand that the service in orbit offers a long -term value. But also on the government side, there must be more regulations to support service providers in orbit.”
