Fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration for space sustainability through an incentive-based mechanism

The proliferation of debris in the space environment, congesting the Low Earth Orbit (LEO), constitutes a major challenge to the safety and sustainability of space missions and operations. Policy makers at the national, regional and international levels are developing and implementing frameworks to address the concerns of space debris. The processes require increased coordination and collaboration and are likely to take a number of years before entering into force.

However, as the sense of urgency calls for immediate innovative, multi stakeholder solutions with a global scope, private actors from the space industry can fill the current void by undertaking initiatives which would foster voluntary and inclusive action for the long-term sustainability of outer space. The Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) presents a compelling example, with the aim of incentivising space operators to design and implement sustainable space missions and operations while enabling other key stakeholders from the space ecosystem to become part of this collaborative effort.

In particular, the SSR provides a new way to support space debris mitigation through a two-pronged approach: (i) It provides a rating system useable by satellite manufacturers and operators informed by transparent and comprehensive assessment to get a clear picture of where a specific mission stands on sustainability and against best practices. (ii) It hosts an action-focused platform in which all actors from the space sector can engage, including throughout the value chain. In other terms, the SSR can serve as an action arm for the implementation of the current and future guidelines for space sustainability.

This work depicts how space actors, with a focus on satellite operators, are using the SSR. By showcasing an example of rating process and lessons learned with EnduroSat's Platform-1, it analyses its effectiveness to incentivise space actors to implement sustainable behaviours and lists the benefits they can derive from using the rating system. Furthermore, the experience of satellite operators from the other side is also described. The potential future developments to strengthen the incentive-based mechanism of the SSR are explored, and ultimately how its promotion among stakeholders, and potential spill-over, can lead to a wider adoption of the rating system (for operators, stakeholders from the space ecosystem and policy-makers).