Caelex for in-orbit servicing & rpo operators
Authorization, collision-risk, debris, and export-control compliance for rendezvous & proximity operations, life extension, refuelling, and active debris removal.
Caelex is the regulatory workspace for in-orbit servicing (IOS) and rendezvous & proximity operations (RPO) — life-extension, refuelling, inspection, and active debris removal. These are novel, high-scrutiny activities: most national regimes and the proposed EU Space Act treat close-proximity manoeuvres and debris removal as distinct authorization cases with elevated collision-risk and safety review, and the underlying technology is export-controlled.
Regimes you’ll interact with
EU Space Act →
Proposed authorization framework for novel activities; close-proximity operations and debris removal would face heightened safety and collision-risk review beyond a standard satellite licence.
Debris mitigation & LTS →
COPUOS + IADC guidelines, ISO 24113, and the UN Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) guidelines — ADR is debris-positive, but proximity manoeuvres carry their own collision-risk obligations.
National authorization →
Operations approval under the relevant national regime (SatDSiG, LOS, Space Activities Act 2020, Space Industry Act 2018), where proximity operations are typically a bespoke case.
Export control →
RPO, robotics, and ADR technology is frequently dual-use or munitions-listed (ITAR, EAR, EU Dual-Use, national lists) — cross-border collaboration and shipments need classification and licensing.
Insurance & liability →
Third-party liability for a manoeuvre near another operator's asset, against the Liability Convention 1972 backdrop for cross-operator interactions.
Which Caelex products fit
Comply →
Authorization workflow for novel-activity licensing, debris and collision-risk evidence, and continuous obligation tracking across jurisdictions.
Ephemeris →
Comply sub-system: forecasts conjunction and collision-risk trajectories across the servicing manoeuvre lifecycle against regulatory deadlines.
Passage →
Export-control automation for the dual-use RPO/robotics hardware your programme ships or receives across borders.
How it works
1. Classify the activity
Tell Caelex the operation type (life extension, refuelling, inspection, ADR), the target, and the jurisdiction(s). Caelex derives the applicable authorization case and the heightened-review obligations.
2. Build the safety + debris case
Assemble collision-risk analysis, manoeuvre plans, and debris-mitigation evidence. Ephemeris models the conjunction risk; Astra drafts the authorization dossier against the latest article text.
3. Clear the technology
Passage classifies the RPO/robotics hardware against ITAR/EAR/EU-Dual-Use and national lists and determines the licensing path before any cross-border shipment or collaboration.
4. Authorize and monitor
File with the competent authority via the NCA portal, track the elevated-review correspondence, and keep the collision-risk and debris posture current through the mission.
Frequently asked questions
Does Caelex handle rendezvous & proximity operations authorization?
Yes. RPO and in-orbit servicing are treated as distinct, higher-scrutiny authorization cases in most regimes (and in the proposed EU Space Act). Caelex maps the heightened collision-risk, safety, and debris obligations, assembles the evidence, and tracks the bespoke authorization through the competent national authority.
Is active debris removal regulated differently?
ADR reduces debris, but the proximity manoeuvres it requires still carry collision-risk and authorization obligations, and capturing another object raises liability and ownership questions under the Liability and Registration Conventions. Caelex surfaces both sides — the debris-mitigation credit and the operational obligations.
Why does export control matter for in-orbit servicing?
RPO, robotic arms, and autonomous-navigation technology are frequently dual-use or munitions-listed (ITAR, EAR, EU Dual-Use, national lists). Caelex Passage classifies the hardware and determines the licensing path before you ship parts or collaborate across borders.
Can Caelex forecast collision risk against regulatory deadlines?
Yes. The Ephemeris sub-system models conjunction and collision-risk trajectories across the servicing manoeuvre and maps them against the obligations and deadlines in your authorization.
Next step
Run the free compliance assessment or book a personalised demo.