Thomas González Roberts: Advancing Space Sustainability Through Policy, AI, and Global Cooperation

EcoAero had the privilege of meeting with Thomas González Roberts, an incoming assistant professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. There, Dr. Roberts leads a research portfolio in international sustainability, coordination, and security in outer space, teaching the first class on space sustainability in the United States. The concerns of satellite debris and decommissioned satellites reducing the overall feasibility of spaceflight and business endeavors, especially in the orbital areas of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO), is a major issue in the field of space sustainability.

First, Dr. Roberts outlined the current policies in place to reduce space debris. In 2002, the Interagency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) published its first space debris mitigation guidelines (which earned support from civil space agencies). This became an important foundation for IADC to publish updated guidelines in 2007, which are now generally accepted internationally. In the same year, a resolution was passed at the UN General Assembly that endorsed the 2007 IADC guidelines through a collective vote, rather than creating a direct pathway for countries to influence IADC decision-making processes.

Dr. Roberts has also been focusing on norms of behavior in outer space, especially the gap between what space parties say they will do and what has been observed. Satellites in GEO face unique challenges for post-mission disposal because of their altitude, and the popular nature of that orbital regime. Instead of diving into the atmosphere like LEO satellites, GEO satellites are boosted into the “graveyard orbit.” Using publicly available data, Dr. Roberts’ research assessed how many satellites from 1964 until today were retired properly, finding that about 60% were. Since 2007, that rate has increased to about 75%. This is promising evidence that even in a growing environment, space sustainability can be cared for.

Dr. Roberts went on to compare traits of LEO and GEO. The focus of the satellite industry is still LEO, and it is the only environment in space in which exponential growth occurs. GEO sees more linear growth, so many issues of space sustainability in LEO tend to involve more formal coordination mechanisms. In contrast, GEO operators often face more individual responsibility in implementing sustainable practices. Despite this, many private companies still choose sustainability, even at a cost. A prominent example is when GEO satellites are boosted to the graveyard orbit, consuming extra fuel but keeping space safe. This practice began to be formalized by many agencies in the 1970s and was picked up by Intelsat, a major multinational company. Intelsat chose to orbit their satellites thousands of kilometers above GEO, which is far higher than necessary, but sent a powerful message about respecting the future. However, the variety of new actors in the space domain is causing a rise in legally binding governmental mechanisms, such as fines by the FCC and space policy changes that Dr. Roberts and others are working to refine.

We then inquired about the use of AI in space traffic and debris coordination. Dr. Roberts wrote a paper called “Using AI for Better Space Governance” to propose answers to the question “How can AI contribute to a more coordinated, sustainable, and secure environment?” He proposes a number of uses, including steering optical telescopes, assessing space debris risk, and controlling satellites. He found that reinforcement learning-based approaches are very efficient for pinpoint accuracy, quick decisions, and fuel optimization.

Dr. Roberts went on to consider the implications of developing launch technology and space services in the field of policy and law. Due to technological development, the low price and high volume of satellites in orbit means that it no longer makes sense to spend millions on repair missions, causing more actors to launch new satellites instead of repairing what exists. However, with the greater price and size of satellites in GEO, this trend applies to GEO far more than LEO. The repairs that continue to be viable for GEO satellites require another satellite to make physical contact, a process that is difficult to legally regulate, especially when multiple states are involved.

The last topic we discussed with Dr. Roberts was his take on the greatest challenges to sustainability in each orbital realm. He believes the biggest challenge will be convincing stubborn satellite and launch operators to change behaviors, especially in congested environments and with end-of-life behavior. The protection of technologies and natural resources must be held in high regard to proceed with healthy densification of the near-Earth space environment.

At EcoAero, we are deeply committed to advancing sustainability not only within Earth’s atmosphere but throughout the broader aerospace domain. Our conversation with Dr. Roberts reinforces the critical need for international cooperation, responsible innovation, and proactive policy in securing a sustainable future for space activity. As we work to promote awareness and solutions for aerospace sustainability, EcoAero remains dedicated to supporting technologies, behaviors, and governance models that protect both our planet and the space environment upon which humanity increasingly depends.