Space Sustainability Scorecard
Comprehensive sustainability ratings for space operators. Tracking debris mitigation, disposal compliance, collision avoidance, data transparency, and environmental impact across the global space industry.
Overall Industry Sustainability Score
Aggregate score across all tracked operators and criteria. Weighted equally across 5 categories, each scored 0-20.
Scoring Criteria Breakdown
Debris Mitigation Compliance
Adherence to international debris mitigation standards and guidelines
Post-Mission Disposal Plans
Quality and reliability of end-of-life spacecraft disposal planning
Collision Avoidance Capability
Active maneuvering and conjunction assessment participation
Transparency & Data Sharing
Sharing of orbital data, ephemeris, and operational status with the community
Environmental Impact (Ground Ops)
Environmental footprint of launch and ground operations
Operator Rankings
Showing 13 of 13 operators
ESA
GovernmentGold standard for debris guidelines
JAXA
GovernmentActive debris removal investment
NASA
GovernmentStrong compliance, CDA standards
Planet Labs
CommercialRapid deorbit compliance
SpaceX
ConstellationHigh volume but lower altitude, auto-deorbit
OneWeb
ConstellationImproved since Gen2 constellation
Rocket Lab
CommercialSmall payload, low debris risk
Telesat
ConstellationLightspeed designed for sustainability
Amazon Kuiper
ConstellationPlans in place, not yet operational
Iridium
ConstellationLegacy debris from 2009 collision
India (ISRO)
GovernmentImproving, ASAT test debris
China (Various)
GovernmentASAT debris, improving practices
Russia (Roscosmos)
GovernmentASAT debris, limited compliance
Best Practices
25-Year Deorbit Rule (Proposed 5-Year)
proposedHistorically, operators had 25 years to deorbit LEO spacecraft post-mission. The FCC now requires 5 years for new US-licensed satellites, and international bodies are considering similar reductions. This dramatically reduces long-term orbital congestion.
Passivation Requirements
activeAll stored energy sources (batteries, fuel tanks, pressure vessels, reaction wheels) must be depleted at end of life to prevent accidental explosions that generate debris. This is one of the most cost-effective debris mitigation measures.
Trackability Standards
recommendedSatellites should be designed to be trackable by ground-based SSA systems. This includes minimum radar cross-section requirements, retroreflectors for laser ranging, and active transponders for cooperative tracking.
Conjunction Assessment Participation
activeOperators should participate in conjunction assessment programs (e.g., 18th SDS, EU SST) by sharing high-accuracy ephemeris data and responding to collision avoidance warnings in a timely manner.
End-of-Life Disposal Planning
activeEvery mission must include a credible disposal plan — either controlled reentry, graveyard orbit transfer, or natural deorbit within the required timeframe. Plans must account for propulsion failures with passive backup strategies.
Regulatory Framework
FCC 5-Year Rule
enactedFederal Communications Commission (FCC)
Requires all new US-licensed LEO satellites to deorbit within 5 years of mission end, down from the previous 25-year guideline. First binding regulatory requirement of its kind.
UN COPUOS Guidelines
guidelineUnited Nations COPUOS
Long-term Sustainability Guidelines for Outer Space Activities. Non-binding but influential framework covering debris mitigation, SSA data sharing, and sustainable space operations.
ISO 24113
standardInternational Organization for Standardization
International standard for space debris mitigation requirements. Covers mission planning, design, manufacturing, launch, operations, and disposal phases.
ESA Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines
guidelineEuropean Space Agency
Comprehensive debris mitigation requirements for all ESA missions. Includes Zero Debris Charter target of zero new debris by 2030. More stringent than IADC guidelines.
IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines
guidelineInter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
Foundational guidelines developed by 13 space agencies. Covers limiting debris during normal operations, minimizing breakup potential, post-mission disposal, and collision avoidance.
Methodology
Scores are derived from publicly available data including regulatory filings, UN COPUOS reports, published debris mitigation plans, conjunction assessment participation records, and third-party analyses from organizations including the Secure World Foundation, European Space Agency, and the Space Safety Coalition. Each operator is scored across five equally weighted categories (0-20 points each) for a maximum total of 100 points. Scores are updated quarterly and reflect both current practices and historical track records. This scorecard is for informational purposes and does not constitute an official regulatory assessment.