End-of-Life Disposal of Satellites in Low-Earth Orbit

Abstract

According to the U.S. Government Orbital Debris Standard Practices, 1 a spacecraft or upper stage with perigee altitude below 2000 km in its final mission orbit may be disposed of by using an atmospheric reentry option. The guideline for atmospheric reentry is stated as follows: Leave the structure in an orbit in which, using conservative projections for solar activity, atmospheric drag will limit the lifetime to no longer than 25 years after completion of mission. If drag enhancement devices are to be used to reduce the orbit lifetime, it should be demonstrated that such devices will significantly reduce the area-time product of the system or will not cause spacecraft or large debris to fragment if a collision occurs while the system is decaying from orbit. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines state: Whenever possible space systems that are terminating their operational phases in orbits that pass through the LEO region, or have the potential to interfere with the LEO region, should be de-orbited (direct re-entry is preferred) or where appropriate maneuvered into an orbit with a reduced lifetime. Retrieval is also a disposal option. A space system should be left in an orbit in which, using an accepted nominal projection for solar activity, atmospheric drag will limit the orbital lifetime after completion of operations. A study on the effect of post-mission orbital lifetime limitation on collision rate and debris population growth has been performed by the IADC. This IADC and some other studies and a number of existing national guidelines have found 25 years to be a reasonable and appropriate lifetime limit. If a space system is to be disposed of by re-entry into the atmosphere, debris that survives to reach the surface of the Earth should not pose an undue risk to people or property..."

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 19, 2010
Accession Number
ADA633319

Entities

Organizations

  • Air Force Space Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atmosphere Entry
  • Computational Science
  • Earth Orbits
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Equatorial Orbits
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Orbits
  • Perigees
  • Solar Activity
  • Space Debris
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris