Abstract

The US Department of Defense is in the first phase of a research effort to characterize the space debris environment and establish the potential threat level debris represents to current and future DoD space systems. The US Air Force Phillips Laboratory is acting as the technical lead for this research program. The Phase 1 effort, characterization of the debris environment, is scheduled to complete at the end of Fiscal Year 1993. Phase 1 emphasizes both the measurement and modeling efforts needed to characterize the current debris environment down to 0.1 cm and to project the future environment and its impact on the survivability of current and planned systems. In parallel, policy efforts have led DoD space designers to implement cost effective debris minimization measures for future systems. A joint effort with NASA to develop a Space Debris Minimization and Mitigation Handbook is also geared to fielding “debris clean” space systems. The threat, however, must be well defined and significant before more costly measures are implemented. This paper will discuss the background of the DoD space debris research program, the status and goals of the Air Force Phillips Laboratory measurement and modeling efforts, and the objectives and status of the Space Debris Minimization and Mitigation Handbook.

BACKGROUND

On February 4, 1987, the DoD Space Policy signed by the Secretary of Defense, the honorable Caspar Weinberger, recognized the potential of a space debris problem: “…DoD will seek to minimize the creation of space debris in its military operations.