Circular Economy in Space: The Promise of In-Orbit Recycling

Building a Sustainable Future Beyond Earth

A Complete Guide to In-Orbit Recycling and the Emerging Space Circular Economy

Just like in-orbit manufacturing and responsible space operations, in-orbit recycling will help us make space more sustainable. In-orbit recycling is taking old or broken space infrastructure—satellites, space stations, rocket boosters, and more—and turning what would be junk into something useful.

The space junk problem is growing, and traditional solutions involve deorbiting satellites to burn up in the atmosphere or letting them drift in "graveyard orbits." In-orbit recycling offers a third way: transforming waste into valuable resources.

The Space Debris Opportunity

Turning Junk Into Treasure

In-orbit recycling could help us solve the space junk problem around Earth's orbit by reusing or repurposing the components that are already there. We have spent rocket boosters, satellite components with rare Earth metals, and superalloys which could be reused for parts of a new space station or in-orbit facility for manufacturing. Obviously, major modifications and repairs would be required for this to work.

What's Available for Recycling

• Spent rocket boosters with structural materials
• Decommissioned satellites containing rare Earth metals
• Failed spacecraft with potentially functional subsystems
• Superalloy components designed for extreme conditions
• Solar panels with degraded but usable efficiency
• Electronics and communications equipment

From Space Stations to Raw Materials

Rethinking End-of-Life Infrastructure

We could also in the future recycle old space stations by breaking them down into useful parts and then smelting the remaining unusable components into raw materials to be used for manufacturing new products. We could use our old and broken junk into someone else's treasure by investing in material processing facilities.

Research and Development Needs

We would need to research and develop methods for in-orbit smelting. We could possibly build metallurgy facilities on the Moon, then extend these capabilities to Earth's orbit. Using microgravity, we could develop new and novel alloys with unique properties that could be impossible to make on Earth.

Potential Applications of Microgravity Manufacturing

• Novel alloy combinations impossible under gravity
• Uniform material mixing without settling
• Unique crystallization patterns
• Manufacturing metal foams and porous structures
• Precision casting without gravitational distortion

Satellite Component Harvesting

Extending Value Through Reuse

Old and disused satellites could be scavenged for parts that are still operational for a new satellite being built in-orbit. If the satellite is still functional but the mission is over, or the components have degraded, we could reuse them for a mission where the degraded performance is acceptable. This would require the in-orbit servicing industry to be past its infancy and have developed ways to conduct in-orbit diagnostics of various subsystems.

Salvageable Components

• Solar panels: Even at reduced efficiency, useful for lower-power missions
• Attitude control systems: Reaction wheels and thrusters
• Communications hardware: Antennas and transponders
• Structural elements: Mounting brackets and chassis components
• Thermal management: Radiators and heat pipes
• Power systems: Batteries and distribution hardware

Testing and Validation

Thorough in-orbit diagnostics would be essential to ensure salvaged components meet the requirements of their new mission. This creates opportunities for developing advanced robotic inspection and testing systems.

The Circular Economy in Space

Integration with Other Space Industries

In-orbit recycling could work very well with in-orbit servicing and in-orbit manufacturing to create a circular economy in space while reducing our negative impact around Earth. We would need to commit serious investment in developing space tugs that can push our junk into position for recycling or to put into "scrapyard" orbits, as well as developing recycling and manufacturing facilities.

Required Infrastructure

• Space tugs for orbital transportation
• Designated recycling zones or "scrapyard" orbits
• Material processing facilities with robotic systems
• Manufacturing facilities for producing new components
• Diagnostic stations for component evaluation
• Storage facilities for raw materials and components

Legal and Ownership Challenges

Navigating Uncharted Territory

I think in-orbit recycling is going to face some potential legal issues that will need to be resolved. This is in terms of ownership of the old or broken equipment that is currently orbiting in space.

Complex Ownership Scenarios

One scenario could be: we have a brand-new satellite that was deployed but is put out of action shortly after due to being struck by debris or catastrophic failure in a subsystem. The company (or state) who built that satellite or subsystems may not want a potential rival company or state to capture and take it apart—to protect IP or national security reasons.

Key Legal Questions to Resolve

• Ownership rights for defunct satellites
• Definition of "abandoned" spacecraft
• Intellectual property protection for recovered technology
• International cooperation frameworks
• Liability for recycling operations
• National security considerations for classified systems

Developing International Frameworks

Clear legal frameworks will need to be established to enable responsible recycling while protecting legitimate interests. This may require updates to existing space treaties and new international agreements.

Environmental Benefits

Reducing Our Space Footprint

While we have a lot of technical and possible legal challenges ahead, recycling along with manufacturing and servicing is a really interesting area we should investigate and invest in. Not just from an economical but environmental reason.

Why In-Orbit Recycling Matters

We could repurpose stuff that is up there, manufacture new components to upgrade or replace systems, which could reduce the need to launch new satellites for a job that could already be carried out with recycled materials.

Key Environmental Advantages

• Reduced launch requirements (launches are the most environmentally impactful phase)
• Less atmospheric pollution from reentering spacecraft
• Conservation of rare Earth elements
• Lower overall energy consumption
• Decreased risk to operational satellites from debris
• Minimized impact on Earth's upper atmosphere

Current Impact of Space Debris

Research shows that reentering spacecraft introduce exotic metal particles into Earth's upper atmosphere in ways we don't fully understand. Reducing the number of uncontrolled reentries through recycling could help mitigate this impact.

Technical Development Roadmap

From Concept to Reality

Critical Capabilities to Develop

1. Robotic Systems: Advanced manipulation for delicate disassembly
2. Materials Processing: Smelting and refining in microgravity
3. Component Testing: Non-destructive evaluation of used parts
4. Orbital Logistics: Efficient transportation between facilities
5. Automated Manufacturing: Producing components from recycled materials
6. Quality Assurance: Verifying recycled components meet standards

Near-Term Demonstration Opportunities

• Test component recovery from decommissioned small satellites
• Develop prototype material processing systems
• Establish proof-of-concept recycling operations
• Create design standards for recyclable satellites
• Demonstrate basic microgravity metallurgy

Long-Term Vision

• Large-scale recycling facilities in strategic orbits
• Integrated recycling-manufacturing complexes
• Lunar surface operations supporting orbital facilities
• Reduced dependency on Earth-launched materials
• Self-sustaining space infrastructure