Objective Space is nowadays fundamental for our life. Most of the services we use every day are based on space assets: weather forecasting, navigation, Earth observation, security, disasters prevention and management, telecommunication. For decades, space faring Nations and private organisations have underestimated the fact that orbital space is a limited resource. As a consequence, out of the about 6,000 satellites launched since the beginning of the space age only 1,300 are operational: the remaining wander uncontrolled in the space around Earth and risk to collide against each other or against operational satellites. In addition to this, many dead satellites re-enter uncontrolled into the atmosphere, and their larger components survive to the high heat of the re-entry and may cause damage to assets on ground and persons.For these and other reasons, Space Operators start to develop methods to remove safely their satellites, pushed by international regulations issued by space agencies, international organisations (e.g. UN and IADC) and national governments.The D-3 project aims to respond to the increasing need to guarantee a safe and clean access to space for both satellite operators and manufacturers, and in general for all the stakeholders involved. This approach has already received positives feedbacks and endorsement from important space players such as ESA, NASA and ASI, as well as from both satellite operators and manufacturers.Since its establishment, in 2011, D-Orbit has developed a decommissioning device (called D3) for satellites and launcher stages, capable to remove them in a safe and controlled way at the end-of-mission or if a major failure occurs. This technology has been pushed up to a current TRL of 6. D-Orbit intends to validate the D-Orbit's decommissioning concept in Space in 2016 in D-SAT mission and to collect data, inputs and lessons learnt for updating, optimizing and fine tuning the design, the engineering and the production of the D-Orbit’s D3. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwareengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringastronautical engineeringspacecrafthumanitiesartsarchitectural designengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologyengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels Keywords space space debris decommissioning device satellite orbit space mission space collision on-board propulsion system Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.1.6. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Space Main Programme H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument Topic(s) Space-SME-2015-2 - SME Instrument Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-2-2015 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator D-ORBIT SPA Net EU contribution € 1 960 484,75 Address VIALE RISORGIMENTO 57 22037 Fino Mornasco Co Italy See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Como Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 800 692,50
