Implementing life cycle sustainability assessment for improved space mission design

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Aerospace Engineering
• Sustainability Science

Background:

• Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) is emerging for space missions but doesn't encompass triple-bottom-line sustainability.
• Integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions in a single life cycle study for space has not been previously attempted.
• A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is proposed as the next logical step for the space sector.

Approach:

• Developed a new LCSA framework for space missions based on a systematic literature review.
• Analyzed life cycle methodologies, knowledge gaps, and space-specific sustainability aspects.
• Implemented the framework within the Strathclyde Space Systems Database (SSSD).

Key Points:

• The LCSA framework integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions for space missions.
• The framework was tested on the Moon Ice Observation Satellite mission concept using the SSSD.
• Demonstrates how circular economy principles and other sustainability factors influence system-level design and mission functionality.

Conclusions:

• The developed LCSA framework enables engineers to design more sustainable space systems, technologies, and products.
• The framework facilitates the creation of cost-efficient, eco-efficient, and socially responsible space solutions.
• It provides a method to easily justify and evidence the sustainability of space endeavors.