Australian-Owned Debris Projection
Below is the Australian-owned debris projection table created for this project and is current as of August 19, 2023. All citations in creation to this table can be seen under the 'citations' tab. Below the database contains another table to explain and define the datasets pertaining to each satellite.
| Satellite Name | Designed Misson Lifetime/ Expected lifetime |
Year Predicted Debris (Inactive) |
Debris Created (2023-2033) |
|---|---|---|---|
Ìý SKY MUSTER 1 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (Gunter's space page) Ìý |
Ìý 2030 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý SKY MUSTER 2 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (Gunter's space page) Ìý |
Ìý 2031 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý TYVAK-0171 (EG 2) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý TYVAK-0172 (EG 1) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý BUCCANEER RMM Ìý |
Ìý 5 (USC) Ìý |
Ìý 2023 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý I-INSPIRE II (AU03) (Cubesat) Ìý |
Ìý 0.5 years/ 6 months (Gunter's space page) Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý SUSAT(AU01) Ìý |
Ìý 3 months (Gunter's space page) Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý UNSW-ECO (AUO2) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý SIRION PATHFINDER II Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Centauri 2 Ìý |
Ìý 3 Years (Sky Brokers) Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý M2 Pathfinder Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý WRESAT Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý Australis - OSCAR 5 (AO-5) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS AUSSAT A1 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (USC) Ìý |
Ìý 2023 (already debris) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS AUSSAT A2 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (USC) Ìý |
Ìý 2023 (already debris) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS AUSSAT A3 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (USC) Ìý |
Ìý 2023 (already debris) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS AUSSAT B2 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS AUSSAT B1 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (USC) Ìý |
Ìý 2023 (already debris) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS AUSSAT B3 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (USC) Ìý |
Ìý 2023 (already debris) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý WESTPACT Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Many decades predicted Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý FedSat Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS C1 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (expected use until 2034) Ìý |
Ìý 2034 Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS D1 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years + 5 years extended lifetime (Optus) Ìý |
Ìý 2026 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS D2 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years + 5 years extended lifetime (Optus) Ìý |
Ìý 2027 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS D3 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years + 6 years extended lifetime (Optus) Ìý |
Ìý 2031 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý OPTUS 10 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years + 5 years extended lifetime (Optus) Ìý |
Ìý 2029 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý SKY MUSTER 1 Ìý |
Ìý 15 Years (Gunter's space page) Ìý |
Ìý 2030 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý M1 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý 2023 (already debris) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Centauri 1 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Proxima 2 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Proxima 1 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý ACRUX 1 Ìý |
Ìý 1-2 Years (Melbourne Space Program) Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý TYVAK-0171 (EG 2) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý M2-A Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý M2-B Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý CENTAURI-3 Ìý |
Ìý 3 Years (Fleet Space Technologies) Ìý |
Ìý 2024 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý CENTAURI-4 Ìý |
Ìý 3 Years (Fleet Space Technologies) Ìý |
Ìý 2024 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý MYRIOTA 7 (TYVAK-0152) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý TYVAK-0173 (EG3) Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý CUAVA 1 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Decayed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý Binar 1 Ìý |
Ìý 1.5 Ìý |
Ìý Decacyed Ìý |
Ìý No Ìý |
Ìý Centauri-5 Ìý |
Ìý No Information Ìý |
Ìý Between 2023-2033 due to Cube Sat configuration) Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-1 Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-1D Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-1A Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-1B Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-1C Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-3 Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-3A Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-3B Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Ìý Skykraft-3C Ìý |
Ìý 5 Years (Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore) Ìý |
Ìý 2028 Ìý |
Ìý Yes Ìý |
Graph 1 - Number of Satellites that Will or Will Not Create Debris Between 2023-2033
Of the 49 Australian-owned satellites launched, 48 were counted for this aspect of research, as satellite M2 has now split to become M2- A and M2-B. As such, M2 itself was not counted in this section. Subsequently, graph 1 shows that 35 satellites will create debris, by already being inactive or are predicted to become inactive during 2023- 2033, whilst 13 satellites will not contribute to the debris count, namely as they are already decayed or have a predicted lifetime beyond 2033. The table above shows that there was a lack of information found for some active satellites in regard to their designed operational or mission lifetime. This pertains to the satellite’s ability to transmit or receive signals.
Graph 2 - Number of Active Satellites Predicted to Become Debris Between 2023-2033
For the current 35 active satellites, information pertaining to only 24 of the active satellites could be tabulated. As such, the figure below accordingly represents those 24 satellites. Any information regarding the satellite’s designed or projected operational lifetime found, then a predicted lifetime was projected based off the launch year of the satellite. This was then recorded in the table to be reflected by the figure below. The 9 satellites predicted to become debris in 2028 is due to the 5 year designed mission lifetime of the 2023 SkyKraft satellites, as stated by Skykraft Chairman, Mark Skidmore (Blenkin, 2022). Additionally, debris of 9 of the satellites displayed can be attributed to Optus satellites that are currently inactive or are predicted to become inactive according to their designed operational lifetime, or due to extended lifetime adjustments. The remaining 11 active satellites that are not graphed above are all of CubeSat configurations, namely with shorter operational lifetimes. As such, in accordance with their launch years, it was predicted that they will become inactive between 2023-2033, hence, being recorded in graph 1.
Graph 3Ìý- Operators Responsible for Australian-Owned Satellite Debris between 2023-2033
This graph represents the same as above but also shows the responsible operators for Australian-owned satellite debris over the next decade
