The evolution of “cubesat” and other simplified satellite construction techniques has brought highly functional satellites within the reach of small corporates. Leveraging this, several companies have set out plans to launch large constellations of hundreds of satellites to provide global connectivity. But while these technical leaps suggest an imminent increase in connectivity, they also highlight the problem of disposal – what will happen to all these satellites when they reach their end-of-life? How can space debris be harnessed for good?
In a recent webinar, we considered these and other questions about the sustainability of space in the era of cheap and plentiful satellites.
Agenda:
- Sustainability of Space – the regulatory landscape (Access Partnership)
- Satellite refueling in orbit (Orbit Fab)
- Re-purposing space debris (Nanoracks)
- Summary and keynote: role of international harmonization to reach the goal of sustainable access to space (Access Partnership)
- Q&A
Speakers:
- Mike Thompson, Director, Technical Development, Access Partnership
- Jessica Noble, General Counsel, Nanoracks. Jessica is the General Counsel at Nanoracks, LLC, a leader in the commercial utilization of low-earth orbit with exciting new ideas for the re-purposing of existing space debris.
- Daniel Faber, CEO, Orbit Fab. Daniel is an engineer and founder of Orbit Fab, an innovative enterprise created to find solutions for the billions of dollars’ worth of fully functional satellites that are disposed of every year.
