Reduce, reuse, recycle: Scientists chart path to a self-sustaining space economy

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Interesting Engineering
Reduce, reuse, recycle: Scientists chart path to a self-sustaining space economy
Chris Young
Mon, December 1, 2025 at 11:01 AM EST
2 min read





More and more rockets are launching into space—the year 2025 is on track for an estimated 300 orbital launches.

Every time a rocket lifts off, it releases a large amount of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting chemicals into the atmosphere.

In a bid to tackle this problem, a team of scientists has published a paper in the journal Chem Circularity. In it, they discuss how the principles of recycling and sustainability could be applied to satellites and spacecraft—from initial manufacturing to end-of-life repurposing.


Making space sustainable

SpaceX revolutionized the space industry with its partially reusable Falcon 9 rocket. The company made satellite launches more accessible by reducing launch costs through reusable technology. This has led to an influx of new orbital machinery in an already congested space.

"As space activity accelerates, from mega-constellations of satellites to future lunar and Mars missions, we must make sure exploration doesn't repeat the mistakes made on Earth," study senior author and chemical engineer Jin Xuan of the University of Surrey explained in a press statement. "A truly sustainable space future starts with technologies, materials, and systems working together."

In their paper, the scientists highlight the fact that valuable satellite materials are rarely reused or repurposed. This is because most satellites are moved to "graveyard orbits" or end up as space debris. Others are deorbited and burn up in Earth's atmosphere. According to the researchers, these practices are unsustainable, especially given the rise in private space launches.

They argue that the space industry must shift toward a circular space economy to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. The automotive and personal electronics industries could provide valuable lessons regarding reuse, repair, and recycling, they claim.

"Our motivation was to bring the conversation about circularity into the space domain, where it's long overdue," Xuan said. "Circular economy thinking is transforming materials and manufacturing on Earth, but it's rarely applied to satellites, rockets, or space habitats."


'Innovation at every level'

To reduce space waste, the space sector must increase the durability and repairability of satellites and other space machinery, the authors wrote in their paper. What's more, space stations should be repurposed as refueling and repair hubs. Manufacturing components for repair and replacement in space would drastically reduce the number of launches required.

Soft-landing systems, including airbags and parachutes, could also allow for satellite and spacecraft parts to be reused. Orbital debris, meanwhile, could eventually be recaptured using robotics arms and nets.

"We need innovation at every level, from materials that can be reused or recycled in orbit and modular spacecraft that can be upgraded instead of discarded, to data systems that track how hardware ages in space," Xuan said.

"But just as importantly, we need international collaboration and policy frameworks to encourage reuse and recovery beyond Earth," they continued. "The next phase is about connecting chemistry, design, and governance to turn sustainability into the default model for space."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/reduce-reuse-recycle-scientists-chart-160100146.html