A mission to preserve the geostationary region Original Research Article

The RObotic Geostationary orbit Restorer, ROGER, is a programme aimed at reducing the risk to satellite operations posed by the existence of failed and spent satellites and other categories of space debris. To achieve this, the concept of mass removal by an intervention mission is considered for the GEO region. This paper describes the results of studies into the level of risk posed at present and in the near future to GEO assets. It also investigates practical means for re-orbiting objects that can no longer be manoeuvred away from the operational GEO region by ground command.