Sustainability For Space
Sustainable Practices for Terrestrial Impacts
Space missions begin on Earth, and the environmental footprint of launch vehicles, satellite manufacturing, and ground operations can be significant. Thoughtful planning and responsible practices reduce emissions, material waste, and resource consumption.
Key Insight: Life-cycle assessments indicate that satellite production and launch can account for up to 90% of a mission’s total carbon footprint.
Key Practices for Minimising Earth Impact
Operators can adopt sustainable materials, optimise manufacturing processes, and select launch providers with low-emission practices. End-of-life planning, component reuse, and modular design further reduce environmental impact.
Our Approach
Green Orbit assists clients in embedding sustainability across terrestrial operations related to space. This encompasses production, testing, launch planning, and re-entry management.
Our Services Include: Life-cycle assessment | Sustainable materials & manufacturing | Launch emission reduction | Net-zero roadmap & reporting
Explore Themes in Space Sustainability
Dark and Quiet Skies
Preserving dark skies for astronomy and satellite observations.
#earth observation#satelliteESANASA
Green Propulsion
Reducing emissions and debris from satellite launches.
#space propulsion#satelliteESANASABlue Origin
Benefits and Impact
Implementing sustainable practices in satellite production and launches reduces carbon emissions, conserves materials, and mitigates environmental risks. Organisations demonstrate responsible stewardship while achieving compliance with net-zero targets and regulatory frameworks.
Reference: Wilson, A. R., & Vasile, M. (2023). The space sustainability paradox. Journal of Cleaner Production. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138869
Explore other pillars: From Space | In Space