Space safety: from principles to practice

For Eutelsat, operating both GEO and LEO satellites, space safety is integral to our business. It is both a practical necessity ensuring we can continue to operate sustainably - and a responsibility to safeguard space as a shared resource for generations to come.

It is why we developed this paper, alongside other operators with AIAA, the Orbital Safety Best Practices for Satellite Operators 3.0.

Now in its second edition, this latest paper builds on the original 2022 work, incorporating lessons learned and operational experience accumulated since then. It covers the full satellite lifecycle -- from orbit selection at the design stage through to active deorbit - and reflects how we are all working to manage our in-orbit assets today to ensure safe and responsible operations.

For our OneWeb LEO constellation, these are not new practices. Our satellites were designed with active maneuverability and a responsible orbit selection from the outset. The constellation is managed by an automated ground system using real-time data from multiple sources to ensure effective collision avoidance. End-of-life disposal is planned and controlled from the outset.

The best practices in this document reflect what responsible operators are already doing - and we hope it can be a guide for others in the industry and for policymakers as we work together to advance how we operate in space.

One theme is clear throughout the paper: space safety is best achieved through responsible design and cooperative operations, supported by coordination across the industry.

Four areas stand out in this edition:

1. Safety by design. Decisions taken at the design stage — orbit selection, maneuverability, disposal planning — all shape the long-term safety of a satellite flight across its entire lifetime. Addressing these considerations early is more effective, and more efficient, than managing them operationally.
2. Early coordination supports safer operations for everyone. Publishing your intended orbit and transit strategy, and establishing collision avoidance communication protocols with other operators well before launch, helps facilitate coordination and allows the wider community to plan accordingly. As the paper notes, if a feature or approach will be discoverable after launch, it is best to be shared before launch.
3. Data sharing is critical. Accurate, timely orbital data and clear inter-operator communication are a foundation of collision risk management.
4. Operations put principles into practice. Ongoing risk assessment, timely mitigation decisions, and responsive coordination are what translate good design into safe outcomes across a satellite's operational life.

As more actors enter the space environment, shared approaches like these become increasingly important.

We hope this paper serves as a useful reference — for operators at every stage of their journey, for policymakers developing frameworks that keep pace with a fast-moving sector, and for anyone working to ensure that space remains accessible and sustainable for future generations.