Underexplored area of research Astroscale: New Initiative on Spacecraft Reentry and Atmospheric Impact

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Astroscale announced the launch of the Atmospheric Impact of Reentered Spacecraft (AIRS) initiative, an industry–academia collaboration convened by Astroscale to improve scientific understanding of the effects of spacecraft reentry on Earth’s atmosphere. Planet Labs PBC and the University of Southampton join Astroscale as founding participants in the initiative.

As activity in low Earth orbit accelerates, the number of satellites reentering Earth’s atmosphere is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. While space sustainability efforts have historically focused on in-orbit operations and debris removal, the atmospheric effects of spacecraft reentry remain an underexplored area of research. During reentry, spacecraft are exposed to extreme heating and interaction with atmospheric gases, leading to melting, fragmentation and vaporisation of materials. 

These processes release chemical compounds at various layers of the upper atmosphere, making it difficult to directly measure or model. Furthermore, current simulations rely on simplified spacecraft assumptions due to limited availability of actual manufacturing data. Without access to real-world industry data, the results of advanced academic modeling may have limits on relevance and applicability.

Confidential bilateral agreements

Developed and convened by Astroscale, the AIRS initiative addresses this gap, enabling space operators and manufacturers to share non-proprietary spacecraft design information with academic researchers to improve the accuracy of atmospheric modeling while protecting commercially sensitive data. Information such as material composition and approximate mass breakdowns can be shared under confidential bilateral agreements, while more detailed data, including component layouts or expected reentry profiles, may be shared at the participant’s discretion, helping to build a more accurate and comprehensive picture of reentry impacts.

“Spacecraft reentry has long been treated as an optimal mission endpoint, but it is increasingly clear that we need a deeper scientific understanding of what happens during this phase,” said Mike Lindsay, Chief Technology Officer at Astroscale. “By enabling industry to contribute real-world data in a trusted way, AIRS removes critical barriers for atmospheric research and ensures space sustainability is guided with the most accurate and up-to-date information.”

Support decision-making

Astroscale will both coordinate the initiative and contribute its own spacecraft data alongside Planet. Planet brings expertise in Earth observation including satellite manufacturing and operations, while the University of Southampton contributes leading academic research capabilities in aerospace engineering and atmospheric science. Together with Astroscale, these first participants aim to expand access to actual spacecraft data, reduce uncertainty in atmospheric modeling, and support evidence-based decision-making for the future of low Earth orbit.

"Our mission to make global change visible starts with a deep responsibility for the space environment in which we operate," said James Mason, Chief Space Officer at Planet. "Sustainable space operations must account for a satellite’s entire lifecycle, including its eventual reentry. By providing data to the AIRS initiative, we are helping the scientific community move past simulations and toward a factual, data-driven understanding of our industry’s atmospheric footprint."

“A primary challenge in assessing the effects of re-entry emissions on the upper atmosphere is the scarcity of high-quality data required for robust modelling and evidence-based analysis,” said Minkwan Kim, Professor at the University of Southampton, UK. “AIRS will address this critical gap, improving our understanding and mitigation of atmospheric re-entry ablation impacts, and ensuring that the benefits of space remain accessible to future generations.”