The Second Space Debris Conference Kicks Off Today in Riyadh, Bringing Together Participants from 75 Countries

The second session of the Space Debris Conference, organised by the Saudi Space Agency , in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, aims to develop effective solutions for pollution in Earth’s orbit and the global space environment.

This conference comes at a time when space debris has become one of the most significant challenges facing space activities over the last decade. The rapid increase in satellites and orbital vehicles has heightened the risk of collisions and the accumulation of debris in Earth’s orbits.

The conference seeks to promote dialogue and cooperation between space agencies, governments, industry and academic organisations to manage this growing problem, in addition to developing joint policies and strategies to reduce debris accumulation and mitigate its risks to space assets, and encouraging innovation to find sustainable solutions in the field of debris tracking, avoidance and removal using the latest scientific and technological solutions.

The conference is also part of the Saudi Space Agency’s efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s leading role in global initiatives to sustain the space sector and to affirm its position as a hub for strategic cooperation to address current orbital challenges.

The conference will continue for two days, with the participation of a select group of international experts in space science, leaders of space agencies from around 75 countries, representatives of technology companies specialising in addressing debris challenges, and managers of orbital mission projects.

The conference will include specialised discussion sessions on the latest scientific trends in space debris monitoring and management, practical workshops reviewing practical solutions and modern technologies in this field, as well as presentations of research results and ideas from academic institutions and companies interested in addressing space issues.

Today, the first day of the conference, will begin with a panel discussion entitled Leading the Way: Government Collaboration for a Sustainable Space Environment. This session aims to Explore the power of collaboration in space debris management, from data sharing to building multinational alliances and fostering joint research for innovative mitigation solutions..

The session will feature five speakers, including the Head of Space Strategy and Sustainability Division at Radiocommunications Bureau at ITU Jorge Ciccorossi, and the Head of International SSA Engagement at Office of Space Commerce, U.S. DOC, Dr. Mariel Borowitz, Senior Advisor to ESA Director General at European Space Agency (ESA) Giorgio Saccoccia, Deputy Director of the Safe and Sustainable Operations at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr. Bulbul Mukherjee, Manager of International Relations and Research Department at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Koichi Kikuchi, and moderated by the Chief Planning & Development Officer at Saudi Space Agency, Eng. Mohammad Al-Anqari.

This session will be followed by a Keynote one, titled “Safeguarding the Final Frontier: Global Collaboration Through the IADC on Space Debris Mitigation,” which focuses on how the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) is leading coordinated global efforts to confront the growing threat of space debris. The session examines the development of technical guidelines, the significance of international cooperation, and the urgent need for sustainable stewardship of outer space. This keynote will be presented by Andrew Ratcliffe, Chair of the IADC.

A Second panel session titled “Governance in Orbit: Shaping Policies for Space Debris Mitigation and Remediation” examines the critical role of collaboration in managing space debris, highlighting the importance of data sharing, building multinational alliances, and fostering joint research to develop innovative mitigation solutions. Moderated by Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA, the session features speakers Muryah Alshahrani (General Manager of Space Systems and Infrastructure), (Rainer Horn) (Managing Partner at NovaSpace), Pascal Faucher (Co-Chairman of the European Union Industry and Start-ups Forum on Space Traffic Management), and Frank Salzgeber (Acting Vice Governor for Space at CST).

Demo one, titled “Artemis II: SSA Space Weather Mission,” presents the Saudi Space Agency’s mission focused on monitoring the Sun’s interactions with Earth’s magnetosphere. This mission aims to deliver crucial data on radiation levels, solar energetic particles, and magnetic field disturbances, all of which have a direct impact on the behavior of operating space assets and space debris. The session will be led by Najla AlAhmadi, Program Manager of Exploration Technologies at the Saudi Space Agency (SSA).

Panel Discussion three, titled “The Economics of Inaction: Making the Business Case for Debris Solutions,” leverages quantified cost scenarios from the CSF/WEF study to translate the technical risks of orbital debris into a tangible economic risk profile for governments, insurers, operators, and investors. The session frames inaction as a measurable financial liability and highlights actionable, market-ready solutions that encompass policy frameworks, technology deployment, and targeted financial incentives. Moderated by Eng. Mishaal Alshemamry, Managing Director of the Center for Space Futures, the panel features Chehineze Bouafia (Head of Regulatory and International Affairs at Eutelsat), Hazuki Mori (Lead at Planetary Solutions Impact at WEF), Akihiro Iwaki (CEO & Founder of Star Signa Solutions), and Giorgio Saccoccia (Senior Advisor to the ESA Director General at the European Space Agency).

The fourth panel discussion, titled “From Vision to Action: The Next Frontier in Active Debris Removal,” delves into the latest advancements in Active Debris Removal (ADR) technologies, covering both current innovations and future solutions. The session will discuss how to develop cost-effective methods to ensure space remains safe and sustainable. Moderated by Marco Aliberti, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Manager and Lead on International Engagement at ESPI, the panel features Dr. Shen Zhang (Lead Researcher in Space Debris and NEO Observation at CNSA), Sergey Gugkaev (CEO of StarTrail), Mike Lindsay, (CTO of Astroscale), Miguel Cobos (Programs and Business Development Head at GMV), and Koichi Kikuchi (Manager of International Relations and Research Department at JAXA).

The first day will conclude with Keynote 2, titled “Sustaining Human Presence in Low Earth Orbit: Commercial Habitats, Debris Resilience, and the Future of Commercial Space Infrastructure,” that will examine how commercial space stations can maintain safety and sustainability amid increasing debris congestion in low-Earth orbit. The session emphasizes the importance of debris-resilient design and addresses the growing impact of space debris on human spaceflight. It also highlights the pivotal role of commercial stations in setting future sustainability standards and underscores the necessity of robust policy and industry collaboration to ensure a secure and stable orbital ecosystem. The keynote will be delivered by Max Haot, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vast.

The second day kicks off with a keynote speech on ‘From Orbit to Impact: Operationalising Space Law in the Context of Debris Reentries’, where the Chief of Space Law and Policy at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Rosanna Deim-Hoffmann, will examine how space law is being applied to manage the risks of space debris reentering Earth’s atmosphere. It focuses on legal frameworks, liability issues, and practical steps to ensure safe, accountable, and sustainable handling of debris from orbit to impact.

The following panel discussion, ‘Insuring Space: Economic Impacts and Risk Solutions for Space Debris,’ Explore the economic impact of space debris, including the cost of collisions, rising operational expenses for satellite operators, and its effects on the space insurance market.

The session will be moderated by the Director of Space Sector System Development Waleed Alsaleh, with a panel of distinguished speakers, including Indra Space’ Director of Strategy and Business Development, Dr Rebecca McFadden, President of Triton Space, Chrisopher Kunstadter, and Head of Science at Slingshot Aerospace, Dr. Belinda Marchand.

In addition, a panel of experts will discuss how future missions can succeed amid increasing congestion in Earth orbit and beyond, and review the strategies and technologies needed to ensure a safer and more sustainable space environment during a panel discussion entitled ‘Beyond Earth: Space Debris and the New Age of Exploration,’ The session will be moderated by the Director General of Space Exploration Engineer Omar Alzahrani, with the participation of Dr. Driss El Hadani, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Deputy Director General of the Space Debris Monitoring and Data Application Centre at the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Dr. Jing Liu, and Deputy Director of Safe and Sustainable Operations Department at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr. Bulbul Mukherjee.

Another panel discussion will focus on ‘Next-Gen Satellites: Innovations in Servicing, Autonomy, and Sustainable Design,’ exploring the latest advancements in satellite technology, including in-orbit servicing, autonomous systems, and innovative materials like biodegradable and reusable components, all shaping the future of sustainable space operations.

The session will be moderated by Alharith Almusa, General Manager of Spacecraft Engineering & Integration at Saudi Space Agency, and will feature a panel of distinguished speakers, including Abdulahadi Alhassani, Strategy and Business Development Advisor at Arabsat; Dr. Mark Dickinson, Chief Technology Officer at Neo Space Group (NSG); Dr. Luca Rossitini, Founder and CEO of D-orbit, and Dr. Nadeem Gabbani, CEO of Exobotics.

An eighth panel discussion will highlight ‘Tracking the Threat: Space Debris and Traffic Coordination.’ The session will bring together a group of experts to explore the latest technologies, the role of artificial intelligence, and global efforts that are shaping the future of safe and sustainable space operations.

The session will be moderated by the Chief Scientific Officer of the Saudi Space Agency, Dr Valanathan Munsami, and will feature the Head of International Engagement at the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Dr Mariel Borowitz, and the Chief Operating Officer and Founder of LeoLabs, Dr Daniel Ceperley; the Director of Space Surveillance and Space Traffic Management at GMV, Alberto Agueda, Chief Technology Officer at Aldoria, Dr Alexis Petit, and Chief Executive Officer at Comspok, Paul Graziani.

In addition, Dr. Minkwan Kim will give a presentation entitled ‘Effect of Re-entries on the atmosphere,’ exploring the hidden climate risks of space debris reentry, focusing on the release of pollutants like black carbon and toxic chemicals that could affect the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

During a panel discussion entitled ‘Bridging the Gap: Academia and Industry Collaboration for Space Debris Mitigation,’ it will be explained how universities and research and development centres are leading innovation in this field, from translating scientific research into operational technologies to promoting global cooperation in debris mitigation.

The session will be moderated by Senior Microgravity Research Specialist Sarah Alharbi and will feature a panel of distinguished speakers, including Professor of Space Law at Prince Sultan University Dr. Olga Volynskaya, Philip Bauer, founder and CEO of Starflight Dynamics, Abdulaziz Alsuwailem, Director General of Future Economics at the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, and Prof. Kazuto Suzuki, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, and Director of the Space Enablement Group at the MIT Media Lab, Prof. Danielle Wood.

In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies, the conference will feature the DebriSolver competition, which brings together industry and academia in an innovative arena to develop pioneering solutions to address space debris.