# Towards a sustainable exploitation of the geosynchronous orbital region

## TL;DR

This paper analyzes the orbital dynamics of geosynchronous satellites to evaluate current mitigation strategies and explore sustainable future exploitation, using high-resolution dynamical mapping and stability analysis.

## Contribution

It introduces a high-definition dynamical mapping approach considering all relevant perturbations, revealing mechanisms for stable graveyard orbits and re-entry pathways, and discusses implications for sustainable satellite management.

## Key findings

- Confirmation of an effective cleansing mechanism for inclined satellites
- Identification of stability regions and re-entry pathways
- Insights into post-mission disposal strategies

## Abstract

In this work the orbital dynamics of Earth satellites about the geosynchronous altitude are explored, with primary goal to assess current mitigation guidelines as well as to discuss the future exploitation of the region. A thorough dynamical mapping was conducted in a high-definition grid of orbital elements, enabled by a fast and accurate semi-analytical propagator, which considers all the relevant perturbations. The results are presented in appropriately selected stability maps to highlight the underlying mechanisms and their interplay, that can lead to stable graveyard orbits or fast re-entry pathways. The natural separation of the long-term evolution between equatorial and inclined satellites is discussed in terms of post-mission disposal strategies. Moreover, we confirm the existence of an effective cleansing mechanism for inclined geosynchronous satellites and discuss its implications in terms of current guidelines as well as alternative mission designs that could lead to a sustainable use of the geosynchronous orbital region.