22 May 2025 – Overarching principles designed to pave the way for sustainable space activities have been released across two standards for public consultation by the UK national standards body, BSI, with backing from the UK Space Agency and the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. These standards address key topics such as space debris, dark and quiet skies, and launch.
Industry, scientists, space experts and interested members of the public are being asked to provide feedback on the two new standards, which are aimed at supporting long-term environmental sustainability. The guidance for the first time provides overarching principles for sustainable space activities, focused on reducing environmental impact and promoting responsible practices across the full lifecycle. This spans from the design and manufacture of vehicles and payloads, to launch, in-orbit operations, and eventual decommissioning.
The space industry plays a vital role in supporting climate research and environmental monitoring and protection, with satellites used to generate data tracking environmental changes, air quality and land use, or conservation needs. However, as global space activity accelerates, there is growing recognition of the environmental impact of space missions. By 2025, CelesTrak reported that the number of catalogued satellite payloads, including those on orbit and decaying, rose to over 63,000. In particular, the continued expansion of commercial satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit is heightening the urgency to tackle sustainability impacts both in orbit and on Earth. Furthermore, approximately 1,200 intact objects re-entered Earth's atmosphere in 2024, according to the Space Environment Report.
Space sustainability – Overarching principles and framework – Guide (BSI Flex 1969 v1.0:2025-03) and Space sustainability – Launch – Guide (BSI Flex 1971 v1.0:2025-04) aim to address the pressing need to tackle the increased congestion in Earth’s orbit and form part of a broader effort to ensure the space sector continues to grow responsibly.
Supported and funded by the UK Space Agency and backed by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the new standards aim to support the UK industry, estimated to be worth £18.9 billion in 2023, and provide a foundation for potential international leadership in this area.
BSI Flex 1969 v1.0, open for consultation until the 27 June, aims to promote and facilitate national and international engagement, and the understanding and management of, the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. It provides an overarching set of sustainable space principles, and is intended to:
- Facilitate national and international engagement on long-term space sustainability
- Span the lifecycle of design, production, launch, management and disposal
- Address key topics such as space debris, and dark and quiet skies
- Consider use of Earth-based and extra-terrestrial resources and Earth monitoring
BSI Flex 1971 v1.0, open for consultation until 27 July, provides guidance on the environmental considerations for organizations planning, designing and/or operating any part of the orbital and suborbital space launch lifecycle. Its focus is to promote sustainable launch including through planning for mitigation actions.
The BSI Flex approach allows for iterative updates to the standards based on feedback, ensuring they remain relevant to the evolving needs of the space sector. Input gathered through this consultation will inform the development of version 2.0 of each standard, enabling a consensus-driven view of good practice.
Nick Fleming, Director of Transport & Mobility, Sectors at BSI, said: “Data from space technologies and satellite imaging offers the opportunity for society to better understand environmental considerations such as the impact of climate change, as well as supporting many other services we take for granted. But with the volume of commercial satellites and space debris expected to grow, it is important the space sector is reducing its own environmental impacts.
“The UK has played a leading role in the development of international standards for space debris mitigation and BSI is proud to be working with UK Space Agency and the space sector on this new standardization programme. It is designed to both complement the existing standards and to further address sustainability challenges through the lifecycle of orbital space and satellite operations by defining new practices and principles, helping to build market confidence.”
Ray Fielding, Head of Sustainability at the UK Space Agency, added: “We’re proud to support the launch of the first versions of BSI Flex 1969 and 1971 – a clear step forward in our mission to shape a sustainable future for space. These standards reflect the UK Space Agency’s commitment to turning the recommendations of the Space Regulatory Review into real-world guidance. I strongly encourage everyone in the space sector to take part in the public consultation – your insights are vital to refining these innovative standards as they evolve from version 1 to 2.”
Both standards are available for review and comment via the BSI Standards Development Portal, with designed versions also available to download from the BSI website.
For more information and to contribute to the consultation, visit:
The standards consultation is running in parallel with BSI’s engagement in the In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) Conference taking place on 4-5 June in Belfast, co-hosted by the UK Space Agency and Satellite Applications Catapult.
To learn more about the standards and other sustainable space related events and activities, please join the Sustainable Space Community. The community is dedicated to sharing sustainable space insights and supporting standards development by facilitating industry engagement, discussion and promoting the exchange of best practice.
