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Towards a Sustainable Space: Addressing the Challenges of the Final Frontier
Sustainability Series with Christophe Bonnal, Space Debris and Launcher Expert, MaiaSpace
Summary of his talk: "Anything that goes up will eventually come downโฆ In the case of launchers and satellites in Low Earth Orbit, this means returning to Earth through an atmospheric reentry at very high velocity. This generates high heat fluxes, partially โmeltingโ the objects. Typically, about 20% survive reentry and pose a risk to people on the ground; however, the remaining 80% will stay in the upper atmosphere for some time, leading to unwanted disruptions to the ozone layer and contributing to greenhouse gas effects. How can we solve this dilemmaโputting people at risk or damaging the atmosphere?"
Programme
06:00pm: Doors open
06:30pm: Welcome address by Emmanuelle David, Executive Director, EPFL Space Center
06:40pm: Presentation by Christophe Bonnal
07:10pm: Round table moderated by the Science Journalist Olivier Dessibourg with:
- Christophe Bonnal
- Dr Susmita Mohanty
Spaceship Designer, Serial Space Entrepreneur and Climate Action Advocate - Prof. Athanasios Nenes
Full Professor, Laboratory of Atmospheric Processes and their Impacts, EPFL - Liesbeth Casier
Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
07:40pm: Q&A moderated by Olivier Dessibourg
8:00pm: Aperitif networking