The Space Polluter Pays: Funding Cleanup Through Debris Offsets
Space Sustainability Gets a Price Tag
What if space polluters had to pay for their orbital mess, and those funds went straight into cleaning it up? This month’s issue of Clear Orbit explores a new actionable framework that could do just that. At the 9th European Conference on Space Debris, Sustain Space’s Matthew Wills unveiled the Debris Offset Market (DOM), a system designed to fund debris removal missions by charging satellite operators for the trash they leave behind. It’s a game-changing idea that doesn’t just point fingers, it offers a path forward where accountability fuels sustainability. And in a time when collision risks are climbing and voluntary pledges are falling short, DOM could be one of the economic engines that drive real, orbital cleanup.
In this issue, we dive into how DOM fits into the broader space sustainability puzzle, from ClearSpace’s robotic missions and solar storms supercharging debris risks, to political roadblocks blocking vital pollution research. It’s not just theory anymore, solutions are here. The question is, will the industry step up and pay to protect its future?
Let’s dive in.
In This Issue
Foundations for a Debris Offset Market to Fund Remediation
ClearSpace Advances CLEAR Mission for Active Debris Removal
Why Space Sustainability Depends on Weathering the Solar Threat
Trump administration to stop US research on space pollution, in boon to Elon Musk
Foundations for a Debris Offset Market to Fund Remediation
In his paper presented at the 9th European Conference on Space Debris, Matthew Wills of Sustain Space Ltd introduced the Debris Offset Market (DOM), a system that flips the script on space sustainability by making those who contribute to the problem part of the solution. Through a “polluter pays” model, satellite operators and launch providers would financially offset their debris impact, with those funds going straight into missions that actively remove dangerous objects from orbit.
What makes the DOM especially powerful is how it builds on what’s already working. Wills doesn’t throw out the rulebook, instead, he connects the dots between DOM and established space sustainability standards like the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) and initiatives like ESSI. Operators that follow best practices would be rewarded with lower offset costs, making it clear that being responsible in space pays off. And when it comes to deciding which debris gets removed first, the DOM gives every contributor a fair voice, no one company gets to call the shots. It’s a system that brings equity to orbit, driven by data and shared interest.
The DOM also promises ripple effects across the broader space economy. Wills outlines how it could dovetail with space insurance and sustainability bonds, offering real incentives like lower premiums or faster licensing for those who play by the rules. And unlike carbon markets, which have drawn criticism for their complexity and loopholes, the DOM keeps things simple and transparent. Offsets can’t be traded or manipulated, they fund real cleanup missions. This makes the DOM a serious answer to the growing fear of “space greenwashing” and ensures that contributions lead to real-world results.
Wills doesn’t shy away from hard truths, either. Free-riding won’t be tolerated, companies that don’t participate won’t get a say in which debris gets prioritized, even if it threatens their satellites. And while legal questions still linger around ownership and liability in space, the DOM offers a practical path forward: pay your share, help clean up, and reduce your long-term risks. With an estimated $93.9 million in annual funding possible even with modest adoption, Wills makes a convincing case that the DOM could jumpstart 5 to 10 active debris removal missions a year.
9th European Conference on Space Debris - Conference Proceedings
ClearSpace Advances CLEAR Mission for Active Debris Removal
ClearSpace is stepping into the spotlight with its trailblazing mission to actively remove space debris. The Swiss startup has cleared a major hurdle, successfully completing Phase 2 of its CLEAR mission. This isn’t just a paper milestone; it confirms that their autonomous capture system, powered by a robotic spacecraft with four precision-engineered arms, is ready for real-world action. The goal? Grab defunct satellites and safely deorbit them before they become the next high-speed collision hazard.
Backed by the European Space Agency and with launch plans targeted for 2026, ClearSpace is positioning itself as a leader in orbital cleanup, a role that’s becoming more critical by the day. With space congestion reaching breaking point, this mission represents a tangible leap toward space sustainability. It’s also a clear signal to the commercial space sector: debris isn’t someone else’s problem anymore.
Why Space Sustainability Depends on Weathering the Solar Threat
The Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) S6 report lands like a solar flare warning, and it’s not just for scientists. As we crowd LEO with thousands of satellites and mega-constellations, the real threat isn’t just what we launch, but what the Sun throws at us. Solar storms, radiation spikes, and geomagnetic disturbances are no longer background noise. They’re frontline risks to everything from GPS and internet services to the structural integrity of our space infrastructure. And as this report makes clear, we’re flying headfirst into this storm with our eyes half shut.
The SWIMMR report breaks down how major geomagnetic storms expand Earth’s upper atmosphere, increasing drag on satellites and debris alike. It’s like turning up the turbulence in an already overcrowded orbital highway. Satellites start falling faster, orbits shift unpredictably, and suddenly you’ve got a traffic jam where no one knows where the next collision will come from. In a worst-case scenario, this could be the match that starts a runaway cascade of collisions that could make parts of LEO unusable for generations.
But the fix isn’t just about new tech, it’s about global collaboration and smarter policies. The report pushes for open data sharing, joint forecasting systems, and space weather risk protocols that span across sectors and borders. It’s a clear call to rethink how we plan missions, design satellites, and manage orbital real estate. Because in this industry, sustainability means designing not just for success, but for survival in a volatile solar environment. Next-gen space systems, from nano-electronics to AI-driven networks, despite being space hardened, can still be sensitive to space weather. If we want a thriving space economy, we need to treat space weather like the threat it is, and build sustainability into every mission before it’s too late.
Northumbria University Research Portal
Trump administration to stop US research on space pollution, in boon to Elon Musk
The Trump administration’s decision to cut NOAA research into satellite and rocket pollution is raising red flags, especially since the projects targeted could have led to new regulations impacting Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink. These programs aimed to study how metals released by vaporizing satellites accumulate in the stratosphere, potentially threatening the ozone layer and destabilizing Earth’s climate. Experts warn that with tens of thousands of satellites expected in orbit over the next decade, and no transparency around their emissions, we’re heading into a future where the people polluting the upper atmosphere are also the ones profiting from its exploitation.
Recent NOAA-sponsored measurement flights already revealed concerning levels of spacecraft metals mixing with sulfuric acid aerosols. critical elements in Earth’s climate regulation. But now, the research is on hold, and the only real oversight is gone. With no global plan to limit emissions, no clean reentry technology, and no willingness from industry leaders to slow down, the upper atmosphere is turning into a lawless frontier.
Interesting Posts & Videos
In a recent LinkedIn article, Virginia Greco brings urgent attention to the growing menace of space debris, drawing from a recent ESA report that warns the problem is spiraling. Even if we halted all new launches today, debris would still accumulate. With over a million pieces of junk whizzing around Earth at breakneck speeds, the danger to satellites, the ISS, and future missions is real and rising, especially as mega-constellations crowd LEO. Greco breaks down not just why this matters but also what we can do about it. From smarter end-of-life plans for satellites and high-tech cleanup missions using robotic arms and lasers, to better design and real-time collision avoidance systems, the solutions are on the table, but global adoption is lagging.
Liam Pieters from Lumi Space is sounding the alarm on our dangerously inadequate ability to predict where space objects will re-enter Earth. Take Kosmos-482, this 50-year-old Soviet spacecraft came crashing down recently, and global predictions were all over the map. In the end, it likely landed in the Bay of Bengal… but no one really knew until after the fact. That’s a huge red flag as more satellites fill the sky and re-entries become a weekly event. While the odds of debris hitting someone are low, they’re rising fast, as Kenya learned firsthand when a chunk landed in a village earlier this year. At Lumi Space, Liam and his team are building a global laser network to supercharge re-entry prediction, improving today’s tech by a factor of 1,000!
Khalid Al Naqbi shares a stark meesage about the rapid crowding of LEO, spotlighting SpaceX’s relentless Starlink expansion and the accelerating satellite race. With close to 12,000 active satellites already circling Earth and projections pointing to even tens of thousands soon, the window to act is closing fast. Without smarter traffic coordination, scalable debris removal, and enforceable global rules, LEO risks turning into a hazardous orbital junkyard!
Veaceslav Jolobenco breaks down one of the most underappreciated truths in space engineering: the Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) is the number-one cause of satellite failures, responsible for nearly a third of all mission losses. Why? Unlike static subsystems, AOCS is packed with moving parts (like reaction wheels and actuators) making it far more vulnerable to wear and mechanical breakdown. But AOCS isn’t alone in the failure spotlight. Power systems, communication, and data handling all carry their own risks, from battery short circuits and software bugs to radiation-induced errors.
Conferences & Webinars & Contests
European Space for Sustainability Award - Deadline May 18.
Next Steps in Sustainable Space: In-orbit Insurance and Innovation - May 21-22, 2025 - Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus
Side Event at SmallSat Europe – Understanding Space Sustainability: Handbook for New Actors in Space - May 28, 2025 - SmallSat Europe, Amsterdam
Zero Debris Week- 10-12 June (Registration Deadline May 14) - ESOC, Darmstadt Germany
The 7th Summit for Space Sustainability - October 22-23, 2025
Centre de Conférences Pierre Mendès France, Paris
Thanks for reading.
Until next time!