Orbital debris : cost impact on setting policy

• Main Author: Wolfner, William S.
• Other Authors: Kyle T. Alfriend
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2013
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/32127

Systems Technology (Space Systems Operations === As the exploration of space increases, the problems associated with orbital debris also increase. 0rbital debris continues to grow at a linear rate with an ever increasing possibility of a shift to an exponential rate. If this point is achieved, space travel will, at best, be extremely hazardous and at worst, unusable. When mitigating orbital debris, cost and policy issues must be addressed. Currently no policy exists that makes the mitigation of orbital debris mandatory but it only strongly recommends mitigation as long as it is cost effective. This thesis addresses the cost impact of alternative spacecraft design Options for orbital debris mitigation. The cost impact is shown by developing generic satellite characteristics, considering two different altitudes, and using alternative design options.