RAMS analyses and tool supporting end of life decision

Spacecraft that survive their nominal lifetime are generally proposed for a mission extension to maximize their return on investment. The current criteria supporting mission extension decision are mainly based on consumables (e.g. remaining propellant) and basic operational considerations on units’ performance and status. Nowadays there is an ever-increasing pressure to comply with Space Debris Mitigation (SDM) regulations since the population of space debris is expected to grow. This is mainly due to the launch of large constellations and to the satellites left in orbit or lost after the occurrence of failures during the mission. It is therefore clear that some improvements are needed to be able to dispose satellites in a reliable manner, and especially at the right time meaning before the complete loss of the disposal capability. In turn, this will allow us to be fully compliant with Space Debris Mitigation standards/regulations and to guarantee safe access to space for future missions by limiting the proliferation of space debris in already crowded Earth orbits. This paper summarizes some of the studies performed by Thales Alenia Space with the aim of deriving how Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) analyses and criteria could support a better risk-awareness decision on satellite End of Life and thus to higher compliance to Space Debris Mitigation requirements; and how this could contribute to the success of space missions and to a more sustainable use of space.