695th Lord Mayor’s Space Protection Initiative

Aim: To stop the increase in space debris by deploying Space Debris Removal Insurance Bonds

On 5 October 2023 “The 695th Lord Mayor’s Space Protection Initiative” was launched at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2023) of the International Astronautical Foundation as a combined technology and financial services initiative to use space debris performance bonds and other financial instruments to keep space ‘clutter free’ in aid of meeting 40% of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The publication below discusses a ‘space’ P&I Mutual and space insurance-linked securities, with a near-term focus on Space Debris Bonds (SDRBs) or Space Debris Removal Insurance Bonds (SPADRIBs):

In-Orbit Servicing & Insurance Markets: A Symbiotic Approach 

Professor Michael Mainelli, Charles Vermont, Pat Mathewson, Morgane Lecas, David Eagleson, Hugh Selka

International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2023), International Astronautical Foundation (October 2023).

Financially, SPADRIBs are surety bonds, as already apply in decommissioning oil rigs, mines, etc. There has been some light modelling on frequency risk, multiple launches, retrieval and removal costs, etc. The current market capacity is probably sufficient if the concept takes off. We are still a bit unclear on retrieval and removal costs, but this will help clear it up – https://spacenews.com/debris-removal-contenders-hit-design-milestone-for-double-satellite-mission/.

The UK, in accordance with the National Space Strategy, is ramping up its efforts in space sustainability. This includes two Active Debris Removal Phase B mission studies which were awarded to Astroscale and ClearSpace in September 2022 (totalling £4 million). These will help the UK Space Agency decide which mission concept to take forward to a fully-fledged design and launch phase, culminating in 2026 with a demonstration of the nation’s capability to rendezvous, dock with, and deorbit two defunct UK satellites.

A broad coalition of organisations are involved ranging from people in insurance and reinsurance, to policy makers and technologists. Insurance industry support for exploring the concept is strong, including a letter from the industry offering ‘an invitation to treat’ for up to US$500m per operator so long as “a spacecraft company clearly demonstrates it can de-orbit third party space debris” and “the agencies regulating space launch make Spadribs mandatory”.

We held a coffee colloquy on space debris at Mansion House on 5 December 2023.

We held a discussion on SPADRIBs at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 17 January 2024 leading to this April report – “… insurance of satellites and space systems will continue to play a critical role. Traditional insurance will increasingly be complemented by insurance for two additional threats affecting satellites: cybersecurity and physical adversary attacks. In addition, dedicated space debris insurance may be available by this time.”

SPADRIBs were the focus of the Lord Mayor’s Science & Innovation banquet on 5 June 2024 where Professor Manahel Thabet announced the launch of the Commonwealth Space Collaboration Initiative, and the publication of “CommonSpace: Making Space Work For All“, while Baroness Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, pledged the support of the 56 nations to the SPADRIBs initiative.

SPADRIBs were the focus of a World Economic Forum workshop at Mansion House on 6 June 2024, “Financial Space Debris Mechanisms“.

Summary-Notes_-Financial_Space_Debris Download

We hosted a Knowledge Miles lecture on 27 June 2024 with the European Space Agency:

What’s our target? We’d like to get the G7/G20 to make purchasing such SPADRIBs, or similar, a condition of launch. Our objective is to get the G7/G20 to announce that “SPADRIBs will be a condition of launch from 202X”.

We are gathering political support, including in the UK. Here is some from Mark Garnier MP – “Other ideas are coming out of the City that would be good to get behind. Professor Michael Mainelli, who is now Lord Mayor of London, has been promoting a space protection initiative that looks at the further purchase of space debris retrieval insurance bonds to go on space flights to ensure that any debris could be recovered in the event of a satellite going out of service. Perhaps they could be called space junk bonds.”

If you are interested in getting deeply involved, the Chairman of the 695th Lord Mayor’s Space Protection Initiative is Charles Vermont.

ANNEX – some background on the space debris problem:

Z/Yen (on which I am on sabbatical for a year as Chairman) has produced a pro bono report on the issue:

The Global Green Finance Index 12 – Supplement “Space Debris – The Tragedy Of The Commons” 

Mike Wardle, Professor Michael Mainelli, Simon Mills

2023

Long Finance & Financial Centre Futures (October 2023), 75 pages.

Editorials:

“The City is where science and finance meet to solve the world’s problems” – City AM (10 June 2024)

“f space is the ultimate frontier how do you explain all the rubbish?” – City AM (18 March 2024)

Other sources:

FS Club webinars:

27 July 2023, 09:00 – 09:45	More Space, Less Waste: Laying The Sustainable Foundation Of The Orbital Economy	Nobu Okada	Astroscale Holdings Inc	Webinar
12 May 2021, 09:30 – 13:00	UK Space Agency Futures Forum: Greening Outer Space	Taskeen Ali, Professor Rafael Ramirez, Dr Lucas Kello, Professor Mark Burgman, Joanne Wheeler MBE, Dr Jason Maroothynaden	UK Space Agency, Oxford University, Imperial College London, Alden Legal, HE Space Operations	Webinar
22 February 2021, 08:30 – 09:30	Space: The Final Frontier Provides An Exciting Future For Our Global Community – BizTech Huìhuà Chat	Nick Flitterman, Du Chongzhuang	Portland Advisers, China Aviation Industrial Base	Webinar – China & UK