A Case for an Active Debris Removal System

Orbital debris has become an increasing problem in space due to the increase in spacecraft launched. Large mega-constellations such as Starlink and OneWeb have not only increased the overall traffic in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), but have caused an increased hazard to all space objects. Since 2018, the global number of spacecraft placed in space annually has increased by 19% and is steadily climbing. Currently, the space industry does not have a way to remediate the increasing hazards, and an Active Debris Removal (ADR) system is needed for stabilization in space. Donald Kessler predicted in 1978 that a cascading collision effect, also called the Kessler Effect, could be realized, rendering some parts of space unusable. Although U.S. and global regulations exist to help mitigate space debris, it is estimated that these requirements only have a 20% to 30% compliance rate. This Praxis shows that removing just five pieces of space debris measuring 10 cm or larger yearly could stabilize space debris levels and ensure compliance with these requirements.The cost of implementing an ADR system ranges from the hundreds of millions of dollars (USD) to the billions. Various ideas to tax users of space have been proposed to fund ADR systems to ensure space safety for years to come. Keywords: Active Debris Removal, ADR, Space Debris, Kessler Effect, Probability of Collision

Author

• Vigil, Veronica

Language

• en

Keyword

• Mega Constellation
• Active Debris Removal
• Space
• Space Debris
• Orbital Debris
• Starlink

Date created

• 2024

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Engineering Management

Degree

• D.Engr.

Advisor

• Goodman, Joel I

Committee Member(s)

• Blackford, Joseph P
• Yassan, Rebecca

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/qn59q491p