Session
Technical Session VIII: Space Access
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
The rapid expansion of space traffic enabled by the SmallSat revolution has enabled unparalleled opportunity for commercial, educational, and national interests. However, it is an ongoing truth of space operations that the number of functioning spacecraft in orbit is vastly exceeded by non-functional orbital objects that can destroy them. As with any other environment, orbital space is easily polluted by human activities, and at some point the pollution can significantly degrade the usefulness of that environment. Today, there are more threats to more spacecraft than ever before, and the current accelerated growth of space activity consequently accelerates the growth of its risks.
As early as 1988, US national space policy established the priority to protect the space environment. Subsequently NASA and the US Department of Defense made first efforts on formal standard practices to control space debris as early as 1993. Their work was expanded with the participation of all involved US agencies in the publication of the first US Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) document in 2001. That document mandated minimum design and operations practices to best preserve the orbital environment with prudent, low-cost, mandatory steps. Subsequently, global coordination through the Interagency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has propagated many of these practices to all space-faring powers with varying levels of success, and has elevated orbital debris mitigation to be a global concern. Each US agency implements the standard practices within their own official regulatory/safety documents, such as NASA’s standard 8719.14 and DOD’s Directive 3100.10, and others.
In the last decade innovative new practices, concepts, and massive constellation proposals have opened “future space” to realities not envisioned in the 2001 standard practices document. Therefore, under Presidential Space Policy Directive #3 (June 8, 2018) all US space-related agencies were directed to coordinate a major revision to the ODMSP to reflect expected best practices for this new era in space. This revised document was approved by the National Space Council in December 2019, and is reprinted here. All US agencies with any certification or development authority over space launchers and/or spacecraft are now working to assure compliance of their internal standards with these practices. In addition, a 2025 list of recommendations (non-mandatory) from the 18th Space Wing at the Central Space Operations Center introduces addition details of design and operations that are all useful in reducing the risks in small satellite operations. This document is proposed for revision as well.
No matter the intended function of a space object or launch vehicle, its certification for flight by any US agency will now depend upon meeting the minimum set of debris mitigation practices of the 2019 ODMSP. Additionally, good recommended practices are embodied in the 2015 Recommendations for Optimal CubeSat Operations. Both documents are included with this presentation. The attached presentation slides highlight all ODMSP requirements, especially key new expected practices for large constellations, active debris removal, and un-trackable or minimally-trackable swarms. This paper consists of two exhibits: the 2019 ODMSP and the 2015 JSpOC Recommendations.
The 2019 U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices
Utah State University, Logan, UT
The rapid expansion of space traffic enabled by the SmallSat revolution has enabled unparalleled opportunity for commercial, educational, and national interests. However, it is an ongoing truth of space operations that the number of functioning spacecraft in orbit is vastly exceeded by non-functional orbital objects that can destroy them. As with any other environment, orbital space is easily polluted by human activities, and at some point the pollution can significantly degrade the usefulness of that environment. Today, there are more threats to more spacecraft than ever before, and the current accelerated growth of space activity consequently accelerates the growth of its risks.
As early as 1988, US national space policy established the priority to protect the space environment. Subsequently NASA and the US Department of Defense made first efforts on formal standard practices to control space debris as early as 1993. Their work was expanded with the participation of all involved US agencies in the publication of the first US Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) document in 2001. That document mandated minimum design and operations practices to best preserve the orbital environment with prudent, low-cost, mandatory steps. Subsequently, global coordination through the Interagency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has propagated many of these practices to all space-faring powers with varying levels of success, and has elevated orbital debris mitigation to be a global concern. Each US agency implements the standard practices within their own official regulatory/safety documents, such as NASA’s standard 8719.14 and DOD’s Directive 3100.10, and others.
In the last decade innovative new practices, concepts, and massive constellation proposals have opened “future space” to realities not envisioned in the 2001 standard practices document. Therefore, under Presidential Space Policy Directive #3 (June 8, 2018) all US space-related agencies were directed to coordinate a major revision to the ODMSP to reflect expected best practices for this new era in space. This revised document was approved by the National Space Council in December 2019, and is reprinted here. All US agencies with any certification or development authority over space launchers and/or spacecraft are now working to assure compliance of their internal standards with these practices. In addition, a 2025 list of recommendations (non-mandatory) from the 18th Space Wing at the Central Space Operations Center introduces addition details of design and operations that are all useful in reducing the risks in small satellite operations. This document is proposed for revision as well.
No matter the intended function of a space object or launch vehicle, its certification for flight by any US agency will now depend upon meeting the minimum set of debris mitigation practices of the 2019 ODMSP. Additionally, good recommended practices are embodied in the 2015 Recommendations for Optimal CubeSat Operations. Both documents are included with this presentation. The attached presentation slides highlight all ODMSP requirements, especially key new expected practices for large constellations, active debris removal, and un-trackable or minimally-trackable swarms. This paper consists of two exhibits: the 2019 ODMSP and the 2015 JSpOC Recommendations.
