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The University of Stuttgart is the first German university to sign up to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Zero Debris Charter. The initiative aims to ensure that space missions leave no more space debris in orbit by 2030 and that the monitoring and removal of existing debris is improved. More than 100 companies, organizations, and research institutions worldwide have already signed up to the charter. The goal is to jointly develop strategies and technologies for clean space travel and greater safety in space.
Disused satellites leave debris in space, posing an almost incalculable risk to active satellite operations. According to ESA data, space agencies are tracking around 40,000 objects in Earth's orbit, nearly 75 percent of which are pieces of debris large enough to cause massive damage to satellites or even manned capsules and space stations in the event of a collision.
With the European Space Agency's (ESA) Zero Debris Charter, more than 100 organizations, companies, and research institutions are pursuing the goal of making space travel free of space debris by 2030. The University of Stuttgart is now the first German university to endorse this commitment.
Operating space travel safely and cleanly
With the Zero Debris Charter, the University of Stuttgart is committed to its goals and new standards, which are to apply to all ESA missions and partnerships from 2030 onwards. “Space debris poses a risk to satellite infrastructure in orbit that is currently difficult to quantify – and consequently to critical infrastructure on Earth, such as navigation and communication systems,” says Professor Peter Middendorf, Rector at the University of Stuttgart. "Preventing further space debris can only be achieved through global cooperation between space agencies. As a university with decades of research tradition in aerospace, we want to contribute to developing technologies that prevent space debris from the outset or remove it from space.
The idea to actively contribute to this vision came from Bahar Karahan, a student in aerospace engineering, who gained valuable insights during an internship at ESA, and where she also wrote her bachelor thesis. “We greatly appreciate the strong commitment of our students and are thrilled when this dedication leads to innovative ideas and developments,” says Middendorf.
CRC ATLAS conducts research into the fundamental principles underpinning the sustainable utilization of very low Earth orbit
The University of Stuttgart is strengthening the Zero Debris Community with innovations from the Collaborative Research Center ATLAS (Advancing Technologies of Very Low Altitude Satellites). Within the framework of ATLAS, researchers and doctoral students are investigating concepts and technologies for the sustainable operation of satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO). Satellites in VLEO burn up quickly after their lifetime without leaving any space debris behind. At the same time, they enable higher resolution, lower communication delays, and more cost-effective launches," says Sabine Klinkner, professor of satellite technology at the Institute of Space Systems (IRS). “We also involve our students in relevant research projects at an early stage, such as the construction of small satellites that we operate in space from our Stuttgart campus and with which we pursue and support the goals of the Zero Debris Charter.”
Aerospace Research at the University of Stuttgart
Stuttgart’s aerospace sector is a nationally unique, interdisciplinary think tank for key technologies in space and on Earth. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart combine their expertise in climate and energy research, communication technology, propulsion systems, and AI-based aviation. A central focus is the development of sustainable technological solutions aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of aviation and spaceflight. As a partner of THE Aerospace LÄND, the University of Stuttgart contributes to the implementation of Baden-Württemberg's state strategy to make aerospace sustainable, digital, and cooperative by 2050. Research is conducted on an interdisciplinary basis and in close cooperation with regional and international partners from science and industry, for example within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centers ATLAS (SFB 1667) and SynTrac (SFB-TRR 364).
Prof. Sabine Klinkner, University of Stuttgart, Institute of Space Systems, tel.: +49 711 685 62677, email: klinkner@irs.uni-stuttgart.de
https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/university/news/all/For-space-travel-without-spa...
https://www.irs.uni-stuttgart.de/en/
https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/university/news/all/ATLAS-collaborative-research...
https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/forschung/profil/aerospace-technologies/
https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Clean_Space/Zero_Debris_Charter_-_Frequently_As... - Zero Debris Charta - FAQ
Peter Middendorf signs the "Zero Debris Charter". The University of Stuttgart is thus committed to s ...
Source: University of Stuttgart
Copyright: University of Stuttgart
With a modern infrastructure that includes a ground station and a satellite control room, researcher ...
Source: Uli Regenscheit
Copyright: University of Stuttgart
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Peter Middendorf signs the "Zero Debris Charter". The University of Stuttgart is thus committed to s ...
Source: University of Stuttgart
Copyright: University of Stuttgart
With a modern infrastructure that includes a ground station and a satellite control room, researcher ...
Source: Uli Regenscheit
Copyright: University of Stuttgart
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