Foundations for a Debris Offset Market to Fund Remediation

The growing accumulation of space debris presents a significant threat to the long-term sustainability of space activities, yet current funding mechanisms for debris remediation missions remain inadequate. While numerous guidelines and initiatives are in place to prevent the creation of new debris, the remediation of legacy debris is often cost-prohibitive, with no established financial models to support large-scale clean-up efforts. This paper proposes an innovative solution in the form of a Debris Offset Market (DOM), a market-based mechanism designed to fund Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions.
The DOM operates on a "polluter pays" principle, where entities responsible for contributing to the space debris population—primarily satellite operators and launch providers—are incentivized to offset their impact by financially supporting debris removal efforts. These contributions would be used to fund ADR operations targeting both large debris in low Earth orbit (LEO), as well as smaller debris, which often poses significant risks but is more difficult and costly to remove.
This market-based approach is structured to be transparent and equitable, with the removal priorities determined by those paying to offset, ensuring fair representation of stakeholder interests. The DOM integrates with existing space sustainability initiatives and standards, such as those developed by international bodies, to encourage compliance and drive down the costs of offsets for sustainable practices. The market would ultimately address the funding gap in space debris remediation by providing a scalable, voluntary process that aligns financial incentives with space sustainability goals.
This paper outlines the foundational structure of the DOM, the process of calculating offsets, and the allocation of funds for debris removal, presenting a framework that can evolve in collaboration with the global space industry. The DOM presents a transformative opportunity to achieve Net-Zero Debris, allowing the space industry to take collective responsibility for maintaining the long-term sustainability of the space environment.