Scientists Urge a 'Circular' Space Economy — Reuse Materials, Recover Debris and Protect Orbits

A multinational team of scientists and sustainability experts is calling for a rapid shift toward a circular space economy that prioritizes reuse, repair and recycling of hardware and materials. Their report in Chem Circularity warns that current launch and disposal practices discard hundreds of tons of valuable and hazardous materials and are creating long-term risks both on Earth and in orbit.

"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," said Jin Xuan, a chemical engineer and senior author from the University of Surrey. "A truly sustainable space future starts with technologies, materials, and systems working together."

The researchers highlight several worrying trends. Typical launches and discarded stages often leave behind rare-earth minerals, toxic propellants and high-value components that are not recovered. These losses can contaminate the atmosphere, reach the oceans and affect communities on the ground, while fragments and defunct hardware accumulate in near-Earth orbit, increasing collision risks for future missions.

Key recommendations

The report lays out practical steps to make space activity more sustainable:

• Design rockets, satellites and ground systems for reusability and repairability, not single use.
• Reduce reliance on disposable components and aim for fewer launches by improving payload flexibility and lifecycle planning.
• Repurpose orbital platforms as long-lived refueling, servicing or upgrade hubs after primary missions conclude.
• Develop soft-landing and recovery systems so more spacecraft can be returned intact and refurbished.
• Invest in active debris removal and in-orbit recycling to prevent a cascading Kessler syndrome of collisions that would render orbits unsafe.
• Advance materials and manufacturing methods that enable recycling or reuse in space, plus modular designs that allow upgrades rather than full replacement.
• Deploy data systems to track how hardware ages in orbit and guide maintenance, reuse and end-of-life actions.

The authors emphasize that technical innovation must be matched by international collaboration, governance and incentives. New policies and cross-border agreements can encourage operators, manufacturers and nations to adopt reuse, recovery and recycling as the default approach for space activity.

"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.

Adopting a circular model for space would reduce environmental harm on Earth, preserve expensive and finite resources, lower operating costs over time, and make orbital space safer and more sustainable for future generations of exploration and commerce.