Research from MaiaSpace, part of ArianeGroup, highlights an urgent need to reconsider satellite disposal methods due to rising environmental threats. Satellites, when they reenter the atmosphere, burn up and release harmful chemicals that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, a critical barrier against ultraviolet radiation.
Current practices, termed ‘Design for Demise,’ aim to ensure satellites break apart upon reentry, but this has resulted in significant increases in chemical pollution. A 2024 study indicated that a standard 250-kilogram satellite could produce about 30 kilograms of aluminum oxide nanoparticles during reentry, leading to an eightfold rise in harmful atmospheric oxides over six years.
In their recent paper, MaiaSpace engineers Antoinette Ott and Christophe Bonnal propose a ‘design for non-demise’ strategy, which could potentially mitigate environmental damage by allowing satellites to survive reentry. This would involve controlled maneuvers to prevent debris from landing in populated areas, though it may increase operational costs for satellite companies.