When Debris Overwhelms Space Exploitation
(Launchspace Staff Writers)
Bethesda, MD - We see more and more reports of debris concern among satellite operators and space observers. Add to this the many recent announcements of multiple broadband satellite constellations that are being funded and developed for launch in the next few years. Just focusing on low Earth orbits (LEO), there are an estimated 15,000 satellites in the works. For example, Amazon is planning to launch 3,236 satellites and SpaceX is already building the first of 4,000 multi-hundred-kilogram spacecraft. Add all of the broadband satellites to the hundreds of planned CubeSats and we have a new satellite population that is at least an order of magnitude larger than what is now in LEO. This explosion in population will be accompanied by an explosion in debris. The safety and traffic implications are extremely negative.
Assuming no debris removal and control program is implemented, it is estimated that within the next decade the debris population will overwhelm LEO operations to the point that space access may be completely impossible. This cannot be allowed to happen because the world's economy will be set back for at least one or two generations. Since the military depends heavily on space, national defense capabilities will also be seriously diminished. Just imagine not having GPS, direct-to-home TV broadcasts, satellite weather, missile defense detection and many other services we now take for granted.
Once the debris takes over, there is no known way to then clean up space. It is fair to say that such a cleanup, if possible, could take decades or even centuries. Without space our technological future will be quite limited. Even our present way of life will disintegrate and revert backward by at least 20 years.
The bottom line is that this cannot be allowed to happen. Somebody has to pay to cleanup space, and that somebody is going to be everybody on the planet, one way or another. To paraphrase a popular muffler ad: "You can pay now, or you can pay later. However, the cost is going to be much, much higher if we wait."
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Featured short course - available for customized presentation at your facility
Space Debris: Issues, Threats and the Equatorial Epiphany
DURATION: THREE DAYS
LOCATION: AT YOUR FACILITY
COURSE NO.: 1060
COURSE SUMMARY
Since 1957, artificial satellites and launch vehicles have created an ever growing number of orbiting debris objects, from a few microns to several meters in size. In recent years a number of international agreements have been made to limit the growth rate of debris. However, there is no serious program to reduce the amount of existing debris. Recent developments such as the proliferation of debris from the Chinese ASAT test of 2007 and the 2009 collision of an Iridium satellite with a Russian Cosmos have raised level of urgency to actively manage the debris situation. Mitigation approaches have been pursued and many reduction techniques have been suggested. Many new spacecraft are now able to maneuver out of the way at their end of life. But, little is being done to reduce existing debris. This special and timely course introduces the Equatorial Epiphany and attempts to explain the dangers and the options associated with the growing debris problem.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Each attendee receives a soft or hard copy of the presentation materials.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
- Space industry executives, decision makers and analysts
- Satellite operators and program managers
- Space mission designers and operations managers
- Launch vehicle and satellite insurance underwriters
- Space policy writers and lawmakers
- Anyone wishing to gain insight into the space debris issues
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
- The nature and history of orbital debris and the space environment
- Debris-generated hazards of space flight
- Proliferation, propagation and collision events
- Management and mitigation approaches
- Methods of spacecraft protection
- The Equatorial Epiphany - The ultimate ecosystem solution
- Policy, legal and economic implications
COURSE OUTLINE:
The Nature of Space Flight and Debris Production
- Dynamics of orbiting around the Earth
- The sources of space debris and what happens to it
- Description of the dangers to operating spacecraft
- Basic definitions
Density and Distribution of Orbiting Debris
- Description of debris sizes and numbers
- Near-term and long-term implications
- Buildup of collision events
- The "do-nothing" scenario
The Debris Hunters
- Tracking space debris
- Space situational awareness
- Shortcomings of today's technology
- Needed new technologies to predict debris impacts
International Treaties and Agreements on Space Debris
- The main debris study sources
- International committees and working groups
- Most recent findings related to debris mitigation and management
- New treaties needed to facilitate debris reduction
The Equatorial Epiphany - New Debris Reduction Ecosystem
- Technologies and Methods of debris reduction
- Early experiments to test possible solutions
- Debris reduction architectures
- Space control
- Cost estimates
Impact of Debris Reduction on the Overall Space Program and Industry
- New launch systems and spaceports for debris clean up
- Special spacecraft for debris collection and monitoring
- Maintaining normal satellite operations
- Complete space control ecosystem
Conclusions and Recommendations
INSTRUCTOR: DR. MARSHALL H. KAPLAN
Marshall H. Kaplan, Ph.D., is a recognized expert in space flight technologies, orbital mechanics and debris retrieval. He was the first to study space junk retrieval and was instrumental in the safe reentry of the Skylab Space Station in 1979. Foxnews.com recently aired a story about his four decades of research on this topic. Dr. Kaplan is one of only a few experts in the field of space debris control and reduction. He has over four decades of academic and industrial experience, having served as Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University and presenting hundreds of courses on space technology in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. In addition to publishing some 100 papers, reports, and articles on aerospace technologies, he is the author of several books, including the internationally used text, Modern Spacecraft Dynamics and Control. Dr. Kaplan is a member of the AIAA Technical Committee on Space Transportation and holds advanced degrees from MIT and Stanford University.
Featured short course - available for customized presentation at your facility
Spaceport Operations for Commercial Clients
DURATION: TWO DAYS
LOCATION: AT YOUR FACILITY
COURSE NO.: 6005
COURSE SUMMARY
This course is specially designed for government spaceport operators who are increasingly dealing with commercial launch operations. It provides insight into spaceport operations from the viewpoint of private sector expectations and requirements. A wide variety of important topics are covered. These include procurement of commercial launch vehicles and the related procurement process, payload processing for commercial vehicles, launch campaigns with commercial launch vehicles and clients and related launch operations. A number of examples and case studies are included in a highly interactive classroom setting.
COURSE MATERIALS
Attendees receive extensive notes and reference materials.
COURSE OUTLINE
1.0 Introduction and Course Objectives
Review of course topics and outline. Explanation of course architecture and how it is intended to satisfy attendee expectations. Definition of terms and expressions used in the course.
2.0 Launch Vehicle and Launch Procurement Processes
Review of the Interface Requirements Document (IRD) typically used by commercial clients to procure launch vehicles and related services. Discussion of how this document flows into the acquisition of the launch site operations. Commercial vs. US Government Contracts for Launch Services. Mission Management and ICD Requirements and Verifications Management. Overview of Launch Vehicle Physical Interfaces and Configurations. Range Safety Interactions and the Range Safety Process. Meetings, Reviews and Schedules (how to manage and plan accordingly).
3.0 Launch Site Payload Processing
Payload Processing Facility Acquisition (Documents, requirements and the contract). Overview of Spacecraft Assembly, Test and Launch Operations. Electrical Power, Communication and Data Interfaces. Contamination Control and Mission Assurance. Spacecraft Processing, Special Tests, Accommodations. Launch Site Organizations and Mission Management on Site.
4.0 The Launch Campaign
Spacecraft Arrival, Handling Transportation and Logistics. Procedures, Safety, and Mission Assurance. Overview of Electrical and Mechanical Ground Support Equipment and Processing. Launch Vehicle Hardware Integration Overview. Horizontal vs. Vertical Processing. Multiple Payload Integration and Processing (Dual SC, multi SC, Cubesat, Primary and Secondary payloads, etc.). Ground System Electrical Interfaces, Checkout and Processing, Special tests, etc. Fairing Encapsulation and Physical Access to the Payload. Transportation Operations and Mating to the Launch Vehicle.
5.0 Launch Operations
Consolidated Testing (LV and Spacecraft). Mission Dress Rehearsals and Countdown. Scrubs and Contingency Operations. Weather and Range Constraints. Lessons Learned.
INSTRUCTOR: Steven Vernon
Steven R. Vernon has accumulated over 25 years of Spacecraft Design and Launch Vehicle payload integration and management experience. He has led launch campaigns for multiple successful space missions, launched from Eastern and Western ranges. His broad experience includes single and multiple payload missions launched on several United Launch Alliance vehicles including Atlas V, Delta II and Delta IV, and the Orbital Sciences Minotaur expendable vehicles. He has lead the spacecraft design, assembly, test and launch operation campaigns for both nuclear and conventional powered space missions. In addition, Mr. Vernon has led system integration and design tasks for several new and modified upper stage systems. He also sits on review boards and is supporting funded studies for sponsors in the civilian and military space communities including studies focused on emerging launch vehicles and systems. He has participated in many first flight articles and mission unique launch vehicle hardware development projects 
community since 1970. Early in his career, Dr. Marshall H. Kaplan realized that space professionals had limited resources in advancing their own space-related knowledge base and on-the-job training options. Over the last few decades this company has created and delivered hundreds of focused courses to thousands of engineers, managers and support personnel in the space community. All training subject matter and supporting materials are designed to increase knowledge and improve productivity associated with space technologies, systems and operations. These topics are not offered in a university setting.
Over the past 20 years, Launchspace has been offering company-specific courses that are tailored to the requirements of any given company to train its own personnel. These courses are presented on-site by experts in the particular subject areas. Such offerings have proven to be very cost-effective and efficient. Every major space organization in North America and Europe has taken advantage of Launchspace's Training programs. This includes government agencies such as NASA, USAF and several other offices of the Department of Defense.Course topics cover almost every aspect of space flight from launch vehicle technologies to orbital mechanics to spacecraft design. Our customized courses are offered at client locations in support of mission requirements and to expand the expertise of professional staff members. In addition, a few high-demand public classes are presented for open registration at selected conference locations. Contact us to discuss a customized training program for your professionals:See our website for a partial listing of possible course offerings www.launchspace.com_______________________________________________________________________________________________LAUNCHSPACE is an educational organization dedicated to training and continuing education for space professionals and to supporting the space community.We offer the largest array of customized client-site courses to government agencies and industry, and a full spectrum of technical and management expertise in support of space programs. Click on www.Launchspace.com to see our extensive catalog of course offerings. Any of these can be customized for your needs, or we can create a new course for you.Through our training programs we have helped thousands of engineers and managers become more productive in their careers. Our courses and programs are unique and customized for our clients. We focus on critical skills in all areas of spaceflight, spacecraft and launch systems.Our instructors are all experts in their fields and present highly interactive classes in-person and at your facilities.Please contact us for more information about our services at info@launchspace.com or +1.202.258.6133._______________________________________________________________________________________________
