An Assessment of Geostationary Intervention Missions

Abstract

The RObotic Geostationary orbit Restorer (ROGER) is a study focused on the need for, and feasibility of, a mission to control the collision threat to the stability of the GEO ring from non -operational satellites and large debris. It has estimated the collision risk in GEO, identified workable economic and technical mission scenarios and proposed an appropriate solutio n. This paper describes how the risks and economic and technical options relate to one another and identifies the issues that must be resolved to further progress this topic. The paper also raises questions over interpretation of the risk and of the cost of intervention. It is determined that the actual risk of collision is low at present. The financial value of losses thus suggests that in the short term it is appropriate for most operators to self insure rather than remove the collision threat. In the lo nger term this policy is unsustainable and presently many but not all operators attempt to re -orbit their satellites at their own cost. This activity itself may provide some commercial opportunity and this is used as the reference case for a technical solu tion aimed at maintaining the collision risk at the present low levels. The assumptions made in developing this scenario are described.