Space waste is the industry of the future. Exodus Space Systems has approached the space debris problem in a fundamentally new way developing a Kinetic Solution for Space Debris (KiSSD).

In February 2009, high in space above Siberia two satellites collided at more than 25 times the speed of a bullet. The two satellites exploded into a cloud of space debris which still orbits the planet today.

Space debris is a collective reference to the more than 34,000 objects, greater than 10 centimeters in size currently orbiting the planet. The objects include defunct satellites, rocket stages and parts that have flaked off them since they've been launched. Space debris poses a significant and increasing risk to a global space industry projected to be worth a trillion dollars a year by 2040. 

Services that utilise space satellites are commonplace and largely ingrained in our lives. Email, weather forecast and GPS mapping data all rely on satellites orbiting in Space. Each one of these satellites that provides such essential and basic services to us on earth are at risk from space debris at any moment. There is risk of satellite loss through catastrophic collisions that in turn make the debris problem even worse and there is a significant and growing operational cost for avoiding these collisions.  

Space waste is the industry of the future. In fact, it has been estimated that space debris clean-up will account for 1% of the total space industry, which by 2029 will equate to $6 Billion US dollars annually.  

Exodus Space Systems has approached the space debris problem in a fundamentally new way. Rather than using the more common Active Debris Removal methods, Exodus Space System has developed its Kinetic Solution for Space Debris (KiSSD).

The KiSSD solution utilises an effector spacecraft orbiting above the atmosphere. This spacecraft performs flyby maneuvers that deploy a multitude of low-density particles into the path of the debris. These low-density particles slow down the debris allowing it to fall back into the atmosphere where it will then burn up harmlessly like a meteor. It essentially acts as a truck arrester bed, allowing the safe and effective removal of space waste from our atmosphere. 

Exodus Space Systems KiSSD method allows for three key advantages over other Active Debris Removal methods: Cost-effectiveness, calculated by cost to deploy versus mass of space debris removed; scalability, measured by the incremental cost of additional debris-target removals in multi-target missions; and safety, as the KiSSD method only requires a single pass for most small targets, safety will be measured by the timeframes involved in performing the clean-up.

Exodus Space Systems is at the forefront of an emerging industry and is pioneering the development of innovative methods to solve a growing problem.