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Orbital Debris: A Policy Perspective Nicholas L. Johnson Chief - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Orbital Debris: A Policy Perspective Nicholas L. Johnson Chief - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Orbital Debris: A Policy Perspective Nicholas L. Johnson Chief Scientist for Orbital Debris NASA Johnson Space Center 12 October 2007 The Jefferson Society University of Virginia 2 Voyage
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What is Orbital Debris?
- Space debris encompasses both natural (meteoroid) and artificial
(man-made) particles.
– Meteoroids are in orbit about the Sun – Orbital debris are man-made and in orbit about the Earth
Non-operational Spacecraft Derelict Launch Vehicle Stages Fragmentation and Mission-related Debris
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Orbital Debris Detectors and Damage Potential
0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.50.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Haystack Radar Haystack Auxiliary Radar Space Surveillance Network Goldstone Radars Spacecraft Surface Inspections Window Replacement EVA Suit Penetration Radiator Penetration
Debris Diameter in Centimeters
RCC Penetration TPS Tile Penetration Cabin Penetration Cargo Bay Damage
Potential Shuttle Damage
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Hubble Space Telescope
- The Hubble Space Telescope
suffered a significant impact in
- ne high gain antenna during its
first four years in space.
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Hubble Space Telescope (continued)
After 7 years in space the Hubble Space Telescope had been peppered with more than 500 craters on its aft shroud.
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Mir Space Station Solar Array
- Sample impact from Mir solar array returned in 1998 by
Space Shuttle. Front of Panel Rear of Panel
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International Space Station
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Space Shuttle
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Satellite Explosions
- Nearly 200 satellite breakups identified since 1961
– Primary source of orbital debris larger than 1 cm
Explosion of Russian Launch Vehicle Stage in February 2007
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Satellite Collisions
- Three accidental satellite collisions
from different missions have already been identified.
- In the future, accidental collisions
among derelict objects will be the greatest source of new debris.
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NASA Orbital Debris Mitigation Guidelines
- Avoid the unnecessary release of orbital debris
- Avoid accidental and deliberate satellite fragmentations
- Properly dispose of spacecraft and launch vehicle orbital stages
- Protect people and property on Earth from reentering debris
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International Space Station Jettison Policy
SUITSAT
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International Space Station Jettison Policy (Video)
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Controlled Satellite Reentries
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Reentry 2000
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Controlled Satellite Reentries
Mir Space Station Reentry 2001
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Uncontrolled Satellite Reentries
- Georgetown, Texas, 1997
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Return of Space Objects
- Nose cone launched in October 1998
- Washed ashore in Texas in Feb 2000
- Returned to France in 2004
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Orbital Debris and U.S. National Space Policy
- Orbital debris has been addressed in all U.S. national space
policies since 1988.
- New National Space Policy (signed 31 August 2006 by President
Bush) states:
“Orbital debris poses a risk to continued reliable use of space-based services and operations and to the safety of persons and property in space and on Earth. The United States shall seek to minimize the creation of orbital debris by government and non-government
- perations in space in order to preserve the space environment for
future generations.”
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U.S Government Policy Strategy
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Bankruptcy of the Iridium Satellite System
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Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC)
Italy United Kingdom France China European Space Agency India Germany Japan Ukraine US Russia
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Orbital Debris at the United Nations
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Chinese Anti-satellite System
- Test conducted 11 Jan 2007
- ~2500 large orbital debris
- Some debris will remain in
- rbit for > 100 years
(Animation)
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Future Evolution of Satellite Population
- In the future accidental collisions will dominate the growth of
debris population.
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 2070 2090 2110 2130 2150 2170 2190 2210
Year Effective Number of Objects (>10cm, LEO) Total Intacts + mission related debris Explosion fragments Collision fragments
No new launch scenario
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Challenge of Orbital Debris
- Failure to curtail the growth of orbital debris will eventually lead to
potential loss or limitation of the practical use of portions of near- Earth space for economic, scientific, and national security purposes.
- The challenge of orbital debris is to identify economically