Houston, Texas – New findings from NASA and its partners suggest that there may be more cost-effective methods to address the increasing problem of orbital debris in space. A recent report released by NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy provides valuable insights into measuring the risks posed by orbital debris, shedding light on innovative solutions to manage this critical issue.
Charity Weeden, who leads NASA’s OTPS, highlighted the importance of understanding the growing activity in Earth’s orbit, emphasizing the need to apply an economic perspective to address the challenges posed by orbital debris. The report, titled “Cost and Benefit Analysis of Mitigating, Tracking, and Remediating Orbital Debris,” represents Phase 2 of OTPS’ efforts to tackle the technical and economic uncertainties associated with orbital debris.
Building on the progress made in the Phase 1 report released in 2023, the new report refines estimates of the risks to spacecraft posed by orbital debris, ranging from large objects to tiny fragments. It also expands the focus to encompass actions that can mitigate the creation of new debris and track existing debris, offering policymakers valuable insights into cost-effective measures to address the issue.
One of the key advancements of the new OTPS report is its direct estimation of the risks posed by space debris, departing from traditional risk proxies. By assessing risks in terms of costs incurred by spacecraft operators, the study models maneuvering costs, close approach risks, and damage or loss resulting from debris impact over a 30-year period.
The study evaluates over 10 different actions that can be taken to reduce the risk from orbital debris, including shielding, tracking small debris, and remediating large debris. By comparing the cost-effectiveness of various strategies, the report aims to identify the most efficient approaches to space sustainability, challenging conventional methods in the space community.
Furthermore, the report suggests that rapid deorbiting of defunct spacecraft could be a cost-effective way to mitigate risks, offering new perspectives for NASA leaders and the space community to consider when addressing orbital debris. Moving forward, OTPS plans to make the research code used in the study publicly accessible, continuing its research efforts to enhance understanding of orbital debris and share knowledge with stakeholders.