Space has entered a period of unprecedented industrialization: with American, Chinese, and European players seeking to deploy satellites on a massive scale—and, in some cases, aiming for the Moon or even Mars—, rocket launches have multiplied in recent years and appear set to increase significantly in the future.
But what about the environmental impacts of these activities on our planet and its atmosphere? Are measures already being taken to make this industry more sustainable and limit pollution from defunct satellites? Is the current legal framework sufficient to address the challenges ahead?
To take stock of these recent developments, the Federal Council for Sustainable Development invites you to a conference bringing together experts and stakeholders from the sector, both Belgian and international.
Programme
- 12.30: Registration, lunch sandwichs and welcome coffee
- 13.00: Introduction| Minister Vanessa Matz (tbc)
- 13.10: Setting the scene: Recent developments of spatial activities | Francesca Letizia (ESA)
- 13.30: UN Framework (tbc)
- 13.50: Which legal framework for a sustainable space industry in Europe? | Vera Pinto (European Commission)
- 14.10: Q&A
- 14.30: Coffee break
- 14.50: Impacts on the stratospheric aerosol layer | Dr. Daniel Murphy (NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory – Boulder, CO)
- 15.10: Global trends in satellite deployments: sustainable or not? | Pierre Lionnet (ASD-Eurospace)
- 15.30: Q&A
- 15.40: Panel (tbc)
- 16.15: Conclusions | Patrick Dupriez
This conference will be held in English only (no simultaneous interpretation) on Monday, November 9, 2026, starting at 12:30 at the SPF BOSA.
Participation is free. You can register via the following link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/iS1T9vtEsX?origin=lprLink