At the fourth Paris Peace Forum, Arianespace became one of the first ten companies to sign the Net Zero Space charter, designed to reduce space debris by 2030 and foster more sustainable use of space for humanity.
This agreement is the result of an international effort by many players in the space sector, including Eutelsat Planet, Astroscale and the French space agency, CNES.
The aim of the Net Zero Space charter, signed during the Paris Peace Forum, is to unite the different members of the space sector in a global collaboration designed to protect the Earth’s orbital environment. All signatories have decided to implement concrete measures to reduce the amount of space debris in space by 2030.
This signature also reflects the major improvements delivered by the new Ariane 6 launcher to support the sustainable use of space. Scheduled to start operation in 2022, Ariane 6 will clearly express the company’s commitment to reducing space debris, in line with the French law on space operations (FSOA).
This new-generation launch vehicle will be capable of de-orbiting its upper stage, for instance, facilitated by the stage’s Vinci restartable engine.
“There are about 4,700 operational satellites currently in orbit, and this number could rise to more than 25,000 by the end of the decade,” said Stéphane Israël, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace. “We must therefore urgently address the question of our responsibility in relation to the increased use of space, so we can safeguard the benefits for humanity over the long haul. The charter fully reflects Arianespace’s long-term policy in support of a sustainable and responsible space sector.”
Launch of the “Net Zero Space” initiative
On the occasion of the 2021 Paris Peace Forum, actors from all over the world concerned by the long-term sustainability of outer space launched the “Net Zero Space” initiative. This new initiative calls for achieving sustainable use of outer space for the benefit of all humankind by 2030 by taking concrete actions to tackle the pressing challenge of reducing debris orbiting Earth.
Outer space is a vital component of critical services for our daily life and contributes to solving global challenges, but the increase of activities in outer space has come with the rise in the amount of space debris. If space activities were to keep developing at this pace without clear actions to ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space, humankind would risk closing off the way to the final frontier for good.
The Paris Peace Forum is happy and honored to collaborate with space stakeholders around the globe to foster international, multi-actor collaboration to protect Earth’s orbital environment and contribute to global efforts in making outer space sustainable in the longer term. Arianespace, Astroscale, CGSTL/Chang Guang Satellite, CNES, EUSST, Eutelsat, ISIS BV, Planet, Share my Space, Spaceable are paving the way to ensure sustainable use of outer space before it is too late and the hopeis that many other actors will join in this task.