14b | Panel | Inching Towards the Metric System-Better Measurements for Space Sustainability

Inching Towards the Metric System: Better Measurements for Space Sustainability

How do we measure progress toward a sustainable space environment — and who decides what “sustainable” means?

In this Track 1 panel from the 7th Summit for Space Sustainability, moderator Ian Christensen of the Secure World Foundation leads a data-driven discussion on space debris metrics, orbital congestion, and international coordination. Experts from Kayhan Space, the UK Space Agency (IADC), CNES, Politecnico di Milano, and Telesat explore how better measurements can inform smarter regulation and safer operations.

Panelists share how their organizations are defining metrics for orbital carrying capacity, collision risk, and environmental thresholds, while debating whether space needs a global equivalent to the “1.5°C climate goal.”

Featuring:
• Camilla Colombo, Professor, Politecnico di Milano
• Araz Feyzi, Co-Founder & CTO, Kayhan Space
• Laurent Fracillout, Space Security, Safety & Sustainability Associate Director, CNES
• Lorenzo Giudici, Space Sustainability Engineer, Telesat
• Andrew Ratcliffe, Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency; IADC
• Moderator: Ian Christensen, Senior Director, Private Sector Programs, Secure World Foundation

Timestamps
00:29 – “We really need to do something about it. Otherwise, it’s going to be catastrophic.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)
01:01 – “Starlink performs on average, more than one collision avoidance maneuver a day.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)
02:25 – “We looked at all the high-risk conjunctions... and that number is 280,000.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)
05:01 – “This is a key area for UK government as well.” – Andrew Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency)
07:54 – “We’re predicting a twofold increase [in debris] over the next 50 years.” – Andrew Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency)
09:10 – “Metrics at the environmental level and metrics at the mission level.” – Ian Christensen (SWF)
10:05 – “We must perhaps distinguish the polish and the debris and the traffic.” – Laurent Francillout (CNES)
13:53 – “There is a remarkable international effort in developing and comparing metrics.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)
15:57 – “We are evaluating the effect on space traffic management.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)
17:54 – “Metrics are useful at any time, but they become crucial during operations.” – Lorenzo Giudici (Telesat)
21:22 – “Disorganized data is as unhelpful as no data at all.” – Lorenzo Giudici (Telesat)
23:08 – “How does improving metrics relate to policy and regulation?” – Ian Christensen (SWF)
25:12 – “We release that report at the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee each year.” – Andrew Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency)
29:32 – “We wanted to measure the impact of the mission.” – Laurent Francillout (CNES)
33:29 – “Operational experience is fundamental in making these metrics useful.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)
37:30 – “Different metrics serve different purposes and are meant for different users.” – Lorenzo Giudici (Telesat)
43:16 – “You always need regulation like you do for any other environmental problem.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)
44:59 – “It depends on how the metric is to be used — by operators, manufacturers, or policymakers.” – Andrew Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency)
46:28 – “The main problem today is not having the data but sharing them.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)
50:13 – “We don’t have a global environmental threshold for space activities — should we?” – Ian Christensen (SWF)
51:32 – “Combining uncertainty on uncertainty might give a false picture.” – Lorenzo Giudici (Telesat)
52:27 – “We are defining what is a sustainable evolution of the space environment.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)
58:19 – “Put operators on the spot: aggregate risk for collisions you could have mitigated but didn’t.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)
59:27 – “The first target should be to keep this environment and this level of debris.” – Laurent Francillout (CNES)
01:00:55 – “The main uncertainty we have is the explosion rate.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)
01:01:26 – “Metrics need to encourage compliance with space debris mitigation guidelines.” – Andrew Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency)
01:02:08 – Closing remarks – Ian Christensen (SWF)

Highlights

“Starlink performs on average, more than one collision avoidance maneuver a day.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)

“We’re predicting a twofold increase over the next 50 years.” – Andrew Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency)

“Disorganized data is as unhelpful as no data at all.” – Lorenzo Giudici (Telesat)

“Operational experience is fundamental in making these metrics useful.” – Camilla Colombo (Politecnico di Milano)

“The main problem today is not having the data but sharing them.” – Araz Feyzi (Kayhan Space)

“The first target should be to keep this environment and this level of debris.” – Laurent Francillout (CNES)