Small satellite manufacturer Kongsberg NanoAvionics revealed on October 30th, 2024, that its MP42 microsatellite sustained an impact from a piece of space debris or a micrometeoroid. The projectile left a noticeable, chickpea-sized hole in one of the satellite’s solar panels but did not impair the satellite’s overall performance or payload functionality.
The MP42 satellite, which has been in low Earth orbit (LEO) since it was launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-4 mission over two years ago, captured an image of the damage using an onboard modified GoPro camera designed for satellite selfies. This photograph, revealing a 6mm hole, brought the incident to NanoAvionics’ attention, although it remains unclear precisely when the impact took place.
Kristupas Krapavickas, head of mission control at NanoAvionics, highlighted the implications of this incident: “The incident highlights the need to make sure satellites are robust, and measures and regulations are in place to allow longtime orbital safety and sustainability,” he said in a statement. “While in this case the object hitting the satellite was too small to be tracked, using collision avoidance can safeguard satellites from conjunctions.”
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The problem of space debris
As a signatory of the European Space Agency’s Zero Debris Charter, NanoAvionics has committed to advancing practices aimed at long-term orbital sustainability.
The Zero Debris Charter, introduced in 2023, seeks to build a community of organizations working collectively to reduce orbital debris, with specific targets set for 2030. Although non-binding, the charter underscores the need for “access to timely and accurate data on space objects down to a size of 5 cm or smaller in low Earth orbit.” Adherents to the charter are encouraged to implement measures like debris tracking, which helps protect both active and future space assets.
The MP42 incident follows another recent event—the fragmentation of Intelsat 33e in geostationary orbit, which created 57 new pieces of trackable debris. Such breakups happen with some regularity, averaging 11 occurrences per year. This fragmentation rate highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining safe operational conditions in an increasingly crowded orbital environment.
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The company’s commitment
Krapavickas further emphasized NanoAvionics’ commitment to debris mitigation and sustainable mission design.
“Space sustainability is paramount. NanoAvionics is therefore committed to building reliable hardware that we extensively test to ensure our manufactured satellites don’t become space junk before the end of their mission.”
He explained that NanoAvionics equips each satellite with propulsion systems for collision avoidance and, if necessary, deorbiting, should the satellite’s operational lifetime exceed five years.
Beyond these technical precautions, NanoAvionics integrates a space traffic monitoring and collision avoidance platform to manage mission risks responsibly. Several NanoAvionics-enabled missions also contribute to efforts to track and even remove objects from orbit, advancing both safety and longevity of active satellites.
NanoAvionics’ onboard GoPro camera recorded two years ago an undisturbed image of the MP42 satellite orbiting above Earth, capturing a 12MP photograph and 4K video of the Great Barrier Reef in the background. See the video below:
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