Orbital Debris

Since the beginning of space flight, the collision hazard in Earth orbit has increased as the number of artificial objects orbiting the Earth has grown. Spacecraft performing communications, navigation, scientific, and other missions now share Earth orbit with spent rocket bodies, nonfunctional spacecraft, fragments from spacecraft breakups, and other debris created as a byproduct of space operations. Orbital Debris examines the methods we can use to characterize orbital debris, estimates the magnitude of the debris population, and assesses the hazard that this population poses to spacecraft. Potential methods to protect spacecraft are explored. The report also takes a close look at the projected future growth in the debris population and evaluates approaches to reducing that growth. Orbital Debris offers clear recommendations for targeted research on the debris population, for methods to improve the protection of spacecraft, on methods to reduce the creation of debris in the future, and much more.Table of ContentsFRONT MATTEREXECUTIVE SUMMARYINTRODUCTION1 SPACE OPERATIONS AND THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT2 METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZATION3 DEBRIS POPULATION DISTRIBUTION4 HAZARDS TO SPACE OPERATIONS FROM DEBRIS5 TOOLS FOR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND PREDICTION6 DESIGNING FOR THE DEBRIS ENVIRONMENT7 TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE THE FUTURE DEBRIS HAZARD8 THE FUTURE ORBITAL POPULATION AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEBRIS REDUCTION MEASURES9 RECOMMENDATIONSAPPENDIXESA SPACE LAW AND ORBITAL DEBRISB WORKSHOP ON SPACE DEBRISLIST OF ACRONYMSUNIT CONVERSIONSGLOSSARYINDEX