GMV signs Zero Debris Charter, the world’s leading initiative to reduce space debris

On 6 June, GMV joined more than 40 companies, research centers, and international organizations at the ILA Berlin Air Show to sign the Zero Debris Charter, demonstrating its dedication to the long-term sustainability of human activities in space. By signing the Charter, GMV reaffirms its commitment to implementing debris reduction standards and technologies to make clean and sustainable use of space a reality. GMV has not hesitated to join this initiative since its launch in 2023 and is contributing its experience to define its technical development by participating in workshops with other international experts.

At the 2022 Ministerial Conference, ESA member states endorsed the implementation of a Zero Debris approach for their missions and have since encouraged partners and other stakeholders to follow a similar path. In this regard, ESA has long been leading a profound internal transformation of its space debris mitigation and recovery practices and intends to stimulate similar efforts in Europe and beyond. In 2023, the Agency announced the launch of the Zero Debris Charter initiative. Developed by and for the global space community, the Charter aims to build a global consensus on space sustainability. It brings together a wide and diverse range of space organizations to define ambitious and measurable goals to mitigate and clean up space debris by 2030.

GMV has set the global standard for studying, monitoring, and preventing the proliferation of space debris. Active in this field since the late 1990s, GMV has been involved in numerous projects with ESA, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), the European Commission, several national space agencies in Europe, and several defense ministries and satellite operators worldwide.

Due to its significant activity in this field, GMV has been aware for years of the need to urgently and consensually address the growing congestion of the space environment and to take urgent and concrete action to mitigate it, thus ensuring the safety and sustainability of space operations.

The Charter was signed by Miguel Ángel Molina, GMV’s Deputy Director General for Space Systems.