A holistic systems thinking approach to space sustainability via space debris management

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of space sustainability and its interconnections using systems thinking approaches. This is done by highlighting the importance of multi-disciplinary perspectives when creating policies aimed at addressing the complex challenges of sustainability for space-related activities. Causal loop diagrams are employed to highlight the presence of feedback loops and causal relationships that are typically absent in space debris models and are treated as separate systems. A systems representation of the space environment is presented along with a discussion of its role in furthering research relating to the impact of large satellite constellations on factors important for holistic sustainability. This study investigated one example feedback between the space environment and the atmosphere and found that CO₂ emissions specifically emitted from launches and re-entries have no significant impact on atmospheric density below 500 km.