What European Space Agency Zero Debris Charter (2023) requires
The European Space Agency Zero Debris Charter is a voluntary multi-stakeholder commitment launched on 22 June 2023 at the Paris Air Show. The Charter sets out the ambition of being debris neutral in space by 2030 and is signed by space agencies, satellite operators, launch service providers, and component manufacturers. Signatories commit to a set of jointly developed technical and operational targets including post-mission disposal success rates, collision avoidance manoeuvre transparency, and active debris removal participation. The Charter is administered by ESA's Space Safety Programme and is open for signature by any organisation in the space sector worldwide. The Charter's core targets are: 99 percent post-mission disposal success for all space objects with a minimum five-year disposal window; less than one percent residual orbital decay risk for launchers and upper stages; coordinated conjunction screening using accredited space situational awareness data; and active participation in active debris removal and on-orbit servicing missions. Signatories also commit to following the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy (ESSB-ST-U-007), the IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (2007 as updated), and the UN COPUOS Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines (2019). The Charter is complementary to legally binding national space laws and does not displace state obligations under the Outer Space Treaty 1967, the Liability Convention 1972, or national implementing legislation. As of May 2026, the Charter has been signed by over 100 organisations including national space agencies of ESA member states, major satellite operators, and commercial launch service providers.
Pillar: Space & Satellite Law · Authority: European Space Agency · Version: 1.0.0 · Last updated:
Primary source: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris
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Primary Citations — 7 traced to source
- ESA Zero Debris Charter (22 June 2023) - voluntary commitment by space sector organisations to pursue a debris-neutral future in space by 2030.
- ESA Zero Debris Charter - sets a 99 percent post-mission disposal success target for spacecraft and constellations.
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