The University of Surrey proposes applying circular-economy principles — reduce, reuse, recover — to space operations to tackle the accelerating problem of orbital debris. Published Dec. 1 in Circularity, the paper criticises single-use mission designs that discard valuable materials and recommends supply-chain redesign, AI modelling and digital twins to optimise lifecycle management. Experts call the approach novel and deserving of broader discussion.
Researchers Urge Circular-Economy Fix — With AI — To Tackle Growing Ring Of Space Debris
What sounds like a silly label — "space junk" — masks a real and growing hazard: fragments and defunct hardware orbiting Earth have surged in recent years as private aerospace launches multiply. Human-made debris has accumulated since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, but the pace of new objects in low Earth orbit has accelerated, increasing risks to spacecraft, crews and people on the ground when objects re-enter.
On Dec. 1, a team at the University of Surrey published a paper in the journal Circularity proposing that the principles of a circular economy — reduce, reuse and recover — be applied across the aerospace sector to limit orbital debris and avoidable material loss.
What the Paper Recommends
The authors argue that most missions today are effectively single-use: components and materials are discarded rather than recovered, creating a growing inventory of expensive and potentially dangerous debris. They propose three complementary approaches:
- Design for Reuse and Recovery: Plan missions and hardware so parts can be retrieved, refurbished or repurposed instead of being abandoned in orbit.
- Supply-Chain Reimagining: Use lifecycle thinking to identify inefficiencies and material losses across production, launch and end-of-life stages.
- Digital Tools and AI: Deploy digital twins and advanced AI modelling to simulate system lifecycles, optimise material flows and prioritise interventions even when datasets are incomplete.
The team highlights that AI-driven analysis has already helped advance space sustainability research, despite limited access to comprehensive datasets, and that digital twins could let engineers test recovery scenarios virtually before committing to costly hardware changes.
Why It Matters
Orbital debris now poses a greater direct threat: collisions and fragment strikes can damage or disable spacecraft, delaying missions or stranding crews. Debris that survives re-entry can also threaten people and ecosystems on Earth. By reducing single-use designs and recovering valuable materials, the aerospace industry could cut waste, lower costs and improve safety.
"I've never seen it presented this way. It's an area that needs to be discussed further," said Michael Dodge, a space-studies professor at the University of North Dakota, who was not involved in the research.
The University of Surrey paper does not prescribe a single technical solution but instead offers a framework for policymakers, manufacturers and operators to rethink how materials are used in space and on Earth. Implementing the recommendations will require new regulations, industry incentives and improved data sharing to make AI models and digital twins more effective.
As launches continue to increase, combining circular-economy thinking with modern modelling tools provides a pragmatic path to slow the growth of orbital debris while recovering value from materials that would otherwise be lost.
