Zero Debris Charter (ESA)
The Zero Debris Charter sets shared targets to stop creating space debris by 2030; by May 2026 it had 228 signatories from 34 countries (ESA).
Image: NASA, ISS Expedition 23 crew (iss023e057948).
Last reviewed: 2 sources cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Old satellites, rocket parts and broken pieces left in orbit that no longer do anything useful. Glossary is old satellites and broken pieces still flying around Earth.
- The Zero Debris Charter is a promise to stop making new space junk by 2030.
- Many space companies and countries signed it so useful satellites can stay safe.
The Five W's of Zero Debris Charter (ESA)
Who
ESA facilitated it; 40 space organizations wrote it, and companies, agencies, universities and countries have signed it.
Source: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
What
A non-binding charter with guiding principles and measurable targets for preventing and removing space debris.
Source: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
When
Published in 2023, with the goal of debris-neutral space activity by 2030.
Source: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
Where
Earth The curved path an object takes as it travels around a planet, moon or star, like a satellite circling Earth. Glossary, with signatories in Europe and beyond.
Source: ESA Space Safety, Zero Debris policy and governance (May 2026)
Why
Dead satellites and broken pieces in orbit can collide and create more debris, putting useful satellites at risk.
Source: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
Impact Statement
Agency solution · active
By May 2026 the charter had 228 signatories from 34 countries, including 21 national governments, and a new coordination group to turn the targets into action.
Source: ESA Space Safety, Zero Debris policy and governance (May 2026)
For Further Information: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
More than 220 space organizations and countries have signed a charter to stop creating space debris by 2030.
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Satellites for weather, navigation and communication serve people every day; keeping orbit clean protects those services.
Source: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
For Nature
Earth-observation satellites that watch forests, oceans and climate depend on a safe orbit to keep working.
Source: ESA, The Zero Debris Charter
Want to go deeper? ESA has the full Zero Debris story.
For Further InformationRelated Solutions
More solutions like this one, matched by meaning.
For Teachers
Discussion questions
- What is Zero Debris Charter (ESA), and what problem does it help solve?
- Who is behind Zero Debris Charter (ESA), and where does the work happen?
- How does Zero Debris Charter (ESA) help both people and nature? Use one fact from this page.
Sources are listed with each fact in the Five W's above.
Cite This Page
APA
Saving Planets. (n.d.). Zero Debris Charter (ESA). https://www.savingplanets.com/Zero_Debris_Charter.html
MLA
"Zero Debris Charter (ESA)." Saving Planets, https://www.savingplanets.com/Zero_Debris_Charter.html.