How can you evaluate the environmental impact of space systems?

1 Define the system boundary and scope

The first step is to define the system boundary and scope of your environmental impact evaluation. This means specifying what parts of the space system and its life cycle you will include in your analysis, such as the launch vehicle, the payload, the ground segment, and the end-of-life disposal. You also need to define the temporal and spatial scope of your evaluation, such as the duration of the mission, the orbit altitude and inclination, and the geographical regions affected by the system. The system boundary and scope should be consistent with the objectives and stakeholders of your evaluation.

2 Identify the environmental aspects and impacts

The second step is to identify the environmental aspects and impacts of your space system. Environmental aspects are the elements of your system that interact with the environment, such as the materials, energy, emissions, and waste. Environmental impacts are the changes in the environment caused by your system, such as the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, acid rain, and biodiversity loss. You can use tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental impact assessment (EIA), and orbital debris assessment (ODA) to identify the environmental aspects and impacts of your system.

3 Quantify the environmental performance indicators

The third step is to quantify the environmental performance indicators (EPIs) of your space system. EPIs are metrics that measure the magnitude and significance of your system's environmental aspects and impacts. For example, some common EPIs for space systems are the carbon footprint, the water footprint, the ecological footprint, and the collision probability. You can use data sources such as databases, models, standards, and reports to quantify the EPIs of your system. You should also consider the uncertainty and variability of your data and methods.