NASA and its partners have recently discovered new, cost-effective ways to address the issue of orbital debris. A report released by NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy provides insights into measuring the risks posed by orbital debris, focusing on economic evaluations over a 30-year period. This research builds on previous reports, improving estimates of risks to spacecraft and expanding the focus to include actions to mitigate new debris creation and track existing debris.
The study directly estimates the risks posed by space debris in dollars, modeling the costs associated with maneuvering spacecraft to avoid debris and dealing with close approaches. Additionally, it evaluates the cost-effectiveness of various actions to reduce the risk from orbital debris, such as shielding, tracking small debris, or remediating large debris. The report challenges traditional perceptions of cost-effective methods for addressing orbital debris, suggesting that debris remediation and quickly deorbiting defunct spacecraft may be valuable strategies.
Moving forward, the research team plans to share their findings with stakeholders and make the research code accessible to the public. This innovative approach to understanding and tackling orbital debris marks a significant step towards ensuring the sustainability of space activities.
Vocabulary List:
- Orbital debris (noun): Waste material left in orbit around Earth.
- Cost-effective (adjective): Producing good results without spending a lot of money.
- Insights (noun): Deep understanding or realization of a specific topic.
- Mitigate (verb): To make a problem or issue less severe.
- Remediation (noun): The act of correcting or undoing a problem or damage.
- Deorbiting (verb): Moving a satellite or spacecraft out of its orbit to re-enter Earth atmosphere.
