←All the glossaryGlossary
Space risks
Risk in orbit and what it brings back down: launch, in-orbit life, debris, space weather, and the international conventions that allocate liability.
97 termsAbandonment clause (satellite)Active debris removalAmos-6 (2016)Anik E1 and E2 failures (1994)Anomaly investigation clauseAntares Orb-3 explosion (2014)Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon testAriane 5 Flight 501 failure (1996)Ariane 5 flight VA241 (2018)Ariane 6 maiden flight (2024)Artemis AccordsCargo resupply mission insuranceCasualty expectationCollision avoidance maneuverConstellation deployment milestonesConstellation insuranceControlled deorbit of Mir (2001)Cosmos 954 (1978)Cross-waiver of liabilityDelimitation of outer space (Kármán line)Drifting satellite (loss of control)Electric propulsion failureEnd-of-life deorbitingEU Space Act (proposed European space regulation)FAA launch maximum probable loss (MPL)Fengyun-1C destruction (2007)Frequency coordination (ITU)Galaxy 15 zombie satellite (2010)Galaxy IV outage (1998)Galileo outage (2019)Geostationary orbital slotGround damage from re-entry debrisH3 launch vehicle maiden flight failure (2023)Hosted payloadIADC space debris mitigation guidelinesIn-orbit incentiveIn-orbit insuranceIn-orbit refuelingIn-orbit servicing (life extension)In-orbit testing and acceptanceIndividual insurability of astronautsInsurers' salvage of AsiaSat 3 (HGS-1, 1998)Intelsat 29e loss (2019)Intelsat 33e breakup (2024)Intelsat 708 launch failure (1996)Interoperator liability gapIridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 collision (2009)IRIS² (European sovereign constellation)Launch facility damageLaunch insuranceLiability Convention (1972)Loss of AMC-14 (2008)Loss of Ekspress-AM4 (2011)Loss of Inmarsat-6 F2 (2023)Lunar and exploration mission insuranceMaiden flight riskMay 2024 geomagnetic stormMegaconstellation riskMoon Agreement (1979)National space activity licenseNewSpace insuranceOn-orbit breakupOrbital collision riskOuter Space Treaty (1967)Partial loss clause (satellite)Payload failure (antenna)Proton-M and three GLONASS failure (2013)Re-entry risk (space debris liability)Registration of a space objectRelaunch guaranteeRendezvous and proximity operations (RPO)Rescue Agreement (1968)Reusable launcher insuranceRideshare launchRideshare launch insuranceRwanda's Cinnamon filings with the ITU (2021)Satellite deployment failureSatellite replacement cost (coverage basis)Sea Launch NSS-8 explosion (2007)Sentinel-1B failure (2021)Shuttle retrieval of Palapa B2 and Westar VI (1984)Space cyber riskSpace reinsuranceSpace resource rightsSpace situational awarenessSpace weather riskSpaceflight participant informed consentSpectrum reallocation riskStarlink in Ukraine (2022)Starship Flight 7 loss (2025)State guarantee for space operationsThird-party space liabilityUK space liability regime (Outer Space Act and Space Industry Act)Upper stage failureVega C flight VV22 failure (2022)Vega failures (2019 and 2020)ViaSat-3 Americas antenna anomaly (2023)