24 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com
Although DND has yet to determine
what concept would be adopted, space
debris removal technologies come in all
shapes and sizes. There exist various Active
Debris Removal (ADR) techniques cur-
rently in development. These prototypes
include a laser that would knock debris
out of orbit, satellites that would rendez-
vous with debris and either catch it with
a net, harpoon it or even magnetically at-
tached themselves to the debris. While the
development of some ADR technologies
are more advanced, most systems remain
in the conceptual and experimentation
phase.
A Future Canadian Space
Debris Removal Mission
Today, space is very different from what
it was back at the dawn of spaceflight.
Space capabilities have become an essen-
tial element of not only national security
activities, but for human safety, security
and commerce. Adapting to these new
and emerging challenges and while ensur-
ing continued access to space is critical. A
debris mitigation and removal mission is
timely and fits as a critical component of
the national security strategy of any space-
faring nation.
A space debris removal capability could
exploit a niche capability gap similar to
what Sapphire accomplished during its
conception. Not only could the CAF de-
ploy a system that could ensure its space
assets could operate free from the threat of
a collision of debris, but it could reinforce
Canada's commitment to the responsible
uses of space entrenched in the UN's Miti-
gation Guidelines.
Lastly, as examined briefly in this article,
various ADR techniques are becoming vi-
able. As these techniques are refined, the
feasibility of initiating debris collection
and removal operations will become more
likely. For Canada, it therefore makes
sense to address the space debris problem
now and with increased vigor.
A future space debris removal mission is
both viable and essential to the space se-
curity of Canada and its allies. Canadians
are developing the technology needed to
clean large sections of the orbits. Along
with the SSE, a one-of-a-kind opportunity
has presented itself where Canada could
take a strong leadership role in blazing the
way in space debris mitigation and remov-
al. This opportunity would enable a typi-
cally Canadian outlook supporting rules
of responsible behaviour in space, thereby
setting the bar for future space activities in
the decades to come.
References:
1. https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procure-
ment-data/tender-notice/PW-19-
00880696; https://www.cbc.ca/
news/canada/ottawa/dnd-rfp-clean-
ing-up-space-junk-1.5236544
2. https://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/
Space_Safety/Space_Debris/Space_
debris_by_the_numbers
3. http://www.spacesafetymagazine.
com/space-debris/mitigation/
4. https://science.sciencemag.org/con-
tent/311/5759/340/tab-article-info
5. Theodore J. Muelhaupt, Marlon E.
Sorge, Jamie Morin, Robert S. Wil-
son, "Space traffic management in the
new space era," The Journal of Space
Safety Engineering, 6 (2019): 80-87.
6. https://www.globalsecurity.org/
space/world/china/asat.htm
7. http://www.spacesafetymagazine.
com/space-debris/mitigation/
8. TIME, India's Narendra Modi
Projects Military Might By Test-
ing Anti-Satellite Missile | TIME,
2019, https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=zwbXOoIwWkM; Kelsey
Davenport, "Indian ASAT Test Raises
Space Risks | Arms Control Associa-
tion," Arms Control Association, May
2019, https://www.armscontrol.org/
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pdfs/ODQNv13i2.pdf
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cations/st_space_49E.pdf
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canada-defence-policy/docs/canada-
defence-policy-report.pdf
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cations/st_space_49E.pdf
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00880696
14. C. Priyant Mark, Surekha Kamath,
Review of Active Space Debris Re-
moval Methods, Space Policy.
Kiernan McClelland is a policy Analyst at
Space Strategies Consulting Ltd., and a
phD Candidate at Carleton University.
sPAce
A future space debris removal mission
is both viable and essential to the space
security of Canada and its allies.
