The first International Study Group (ISG) talk of 2024 will take place on Monday 15 January and will feature the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Clean Space Initiative. This programme stands at the forefront of preserving both terrestrial and orbital environments while enhancing Europe's space sector's competitiveness. Committed to cleaning up space and minimizing the environmental impact of space activities, the initiative focuses on eco-designing space missions, managing end-of-life missions, and pioneering in-orbit servicing, including active debris removal. Through these efforts, ESA is taking global leadership in ensuring the safe and sustainable use of valuable orbits around Earth.

To achieve this, ESA has set an ambitious Zero Debris goal to eliminate debris generation entirely by 2030 and securing a cleaner and safer space environment for future generations.

The speaker will be Mathilde Reumaux, EU Relations Coordinator at ESA. She works in the ESA Brussels Office, which liaises with the EU institutions and Brussels-based (space) stakeholders to support cooperation between the EU, ESA and others. Before joining ESA, Mathilde gained more than 10 years’ experience in EU research and innovation policies and programmes, and in EU and international collaboration for science.

What, where, when

The venue for ISG talks is the Chateau Malou, Allée Pierre Levie 2, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and the doors will be open for the talk on Monday 15 January at 10h00 with the programme commencing from 10h30.

There is free parking close to the Château Malou and the closest public transport is Tram 8 (Stop Voot); Bus 28 (Stop Deportés or Parc Malou). The talk is free for ISG members and guests are welcome and may attend for a fee of €10 payable at the entrance.

For more information visit the ISG website or Facebook page.