Since the first satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in 1957, thousands of satellites, launch vehicles and probes have been sent into space. In fact, it is estimated that there are more than half a million pieces of debris larger than a centimetre currently orbiting the Earth and the problem can only grow as existing satellites age and more are launched. NASA has replaced windows on the space shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) has been repositioned after a near-miss event. Even the smallest object, such as a bolt or a speck of paint can cause critical damage to a spacecraft when travelling at speeds of up to 25,000 mph and the practice of predicting potential collisions and manoeuvring to avoid them is increasing within the satellite community.

Since its launch in September 2003, the SSTL-built satellite has achieved all of its mission objectives and remains in good condition well beyond its design life of 5 years and is still acquiring images for SSTL’s remote sensing subsidiary DMCii. UK-DMC-1 was part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation and carries a first generation medium resolution 32m Ground Sample Distance (GSD) multi-spectral imager. When launched, the 89kg spacecraft carried a small butane propulsion system which contained 2.35kg of propellant, the primary function of which was to perform orbit maintenance and constellation management. When the spacecraft was no longer required to be maintained in the constellation, all of the remaining propellant was then used to perform the orbit lowering manoeuvres.