Pollution in Orbit: Setback or Crisis?

By

Steven Bertic

William Coelho

Camron Jimenez

Zachary Overfield

COM 221-01DB

Professor McClure

7 November 2020
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 2

Abstract

This report aims to present a number of solutions backed by research and scientific analysis that

can potentially solve the problem with orbital debris that hinders our space industry. Orbital

debris, otherwise known as space junk, is a growing issue that continues to cost national space

stations with the damage they cause, setting missions behind millions of taxpayer dollars. The

purpose of this report is to propose multiple measures that our government and space programs

can take in order to remedy this ongoing and growing setback. The following sections discuss

ways to prevent the increase, and reduce the current mass of junk that orbits our planet and moon

through the integration of retrieval satellites and orbital air fees that improve financial strain.

This topic is important because the future of the global space industry depends on it. The

ongoing damage and interference caused by space junk goes beyond routine maintenance, it

jeopardizes every mission in greater threats with every payload that leaves our atmosphere.
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 3

Table of Contents

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………… 3

List of Figures….………………………………………………………………………………… 4

Introduction..…...………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Methodology…...………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Results of Study..………………………………………………………………………………… 7

Lack of Measures: How does Space junk affect space travel…………………………..... 7

Preventative Measures: How to mitigate for the future?.........……………..…………..... 8

Reduction Measures: Ways to “clean up” space…………………....…………………..... 9

Discussion of Results..………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Lack of Measures: How does Space junk affect space travel…………………………....11

Preventative Measures: How to mitigate for the future?.........……………..…………....12

Reduction Measures: Ways to “clean up” space…………………....……………………13

Conclusion..…..………………………………………………………………………………… 14

References……...……………………………………………………………………………….. 15

Glossary………..………………………………………………………………………………...16
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 4

List of Figures

Figure 1: Debris evolution by object type. (NASA Space Debris Office, 2020)........................... 6

Figure 2: Earth surrounded by space debris. (Crowther, 2002)...................................................... 7

Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 5

Introduction

Space junk, also known as orbital debris, is anything that is man made, in space, and not

in use. This is a problem which has merited a lot of dialogue, but that none have properly

addressed as of yet. For the sake of the space industry’s future success, we commit to a

solution that could take care of the junk now, and for the generations to come. These pieces of

junk are deadly projectiles flying at roughly six miles a second, or nearly twenty two thousand

miles per hour, tearing International Space Station windows to shreds (Aerospace, 2018). Even

small particles carry explosively dangerous potential at these speeds. The junk comes from a

multitude of sources; decommissioned satellites, rocket parts lost in launch, components lost

during satellite deployment, and broken tech. For example, the Soviet satellite known as Sputnik

has been lingering in orbit since 1957 despite it having been long since made obsolete.

Considering it has not yet been brought back to the planet one way or another, the satellite is

now considered space junk. This paper sets out to prove that the solutions discovered can be

accomplished through proper allocation of funds and consideration . Through the Methodology,

the Results of Study and the Discussion of Results this paper will also embolden some solutions

that deserve our attention now, so that they may bear fruit later.
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 6

Methodology

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Hunt Library’s online database was used in

addition to reputable online resources while inquiring about key portions of this report. The

initial search through Hunt Library’s online database consisted in the set of words “space junk”

with the scholarly and peer-reviewed journal filters enabled in the menu. Additionally, all data

acquired from the search was examined in order to verify the specific criteria aforementioned.

From online resources, official reports of prior space debris studies were gathered and cross

referenced with other data. Moreover, the search was narrowed down and keywords were

utilized with the goal of achieving a better scope of the whole issue. Examples of keywords

include “space junk AND growth” as well as “space debris AND removing”. The research was

followed by continuing ideas uncovered by the texts discovered. Examples of such ideas include

using Orbital-use Fees as a proactive solution to combating space junk, as well as high tech

reductive measures such as collection satellites and plasma rays.

Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 7

Results of Study

How does Space junk affect space travel

The amount of space debris poses a threat to future space travel because of an increasing

probability of a collision of objects in space, which would create more space junk. The European

Space Agency (ESA) states that 42,000 objects have been tracked in orbit from roughly 5250

launches over the course of the past 60 years. Of those 42,000 objects, it is estimated that about

23,000 objects still remain in space (ESA, n.d). Figure 1 visualizes the increase in the amount of

space debris over the last 60

years and from what the debris is

from. This debris is travelling at

around 21,600 mph in low Earth

orbit (LEO). The National

Aeronautics and Space

Figure 1. Space debris evolution over time. This figure
Administration (NASA) has features the steady and sharp increase of the various types of

had to replace the windows of the space shuttle because of the damage sustained by small pieces

of debris. To put the danger in perspective, a 10 cm long piece of debris can have the same

impact as 25 sticks of dynamite (Aerospace, 2018)

As global space programs reach further into the unknown, it is important to acknowledge

the heightened responsibility that comes with the resources we use. However with modern

technology, it is possible to at least ascertain the extent of the volume that needs cleaning. In

2015, an object code named WT1990F showcased one of the first deep-earth orbits tracked in

space that has come back to Earth (Watson, T, 2015). The sighting raised many questions
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 8

regarding an as of yet unfamiliar trend of space debris

that ventures as far out from our atmosphere as the

moon, over two hundred thousand miles away.

Moreover, the expansion of space travel not only

endangers the current low-earth orbit but may pose a

risk to future missions sent in space. Due to

organizations such as the International Space Station

(ISS) have created a model, Figure 2, to depict the

spread of space junk around the earth (Crowther, 2002).

Preventative Measures: How to Mitigate Space Debris

Considered to be the statistically most promising means of eliminating the presence of

space debris is to prevent the problem entirely via something called an orbital-use fee. This fee

would be an international agreement that would demand an annual cost from anyone looking to

keep a satellite in Earth’s orbit. According to Assistant Professor Matthew Burgess and his

associates at CIRES, a reduced risk of debris collision paired with annual orbital-use fees would

“quadruple the value of the satellite industry by 2040,” (Burgess, 2020). However, as promising

and profitable as this new space economy, it is withheld from complete efficacy when attempting

to cross extend across the globe.

A new level of complexity is added to the implementation of Orbital-use Fees when the

agreement reaches an international basis. Then, the challenge will be in reaching a mutual

agreement between all the countries that will be invested in the space industry from then on.

There are multiple organizations originating from several European and Asia countries including
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 9

China and Russia -both of which would be major proponents of the industry at large should they

agree to the fees. To get these organizations to participate in this agreement, there would have to

be a sizable investment in not only public, but also foreign relations.

The final frontier is on the horizon and drawing closer with each advancement made or

dollar saved, which is why this method is so significant. The primary inhibiting factor to our

exploration of space aside from the current limits of technology is funding, a large portion of

which is inevitably expended on routine maintenance of satellites. Orbital-use fees help to

remedy both the cost of maintenance, as well as limited sustainability. This would create an

economic network that would benefit all who participate in the agreement

In 1999, the United Nations (UN) was asked to take steps in order to increase the

awareness of the potential impact of space activities. This includes exploring the aspects of space

debris and protecting regions of the Earth from radio emissions (Eva, 1999). A few years later, in

2007, a US interagency group published a document detailing the mitigation standard practices

of space debris. There are three major objectives when trying to mitigate space debris: control of

the debris, minimizing debris generated, and the selection of a safe flight profile (NASA, 2007).

A consistent approach to tracking debris is key in order to be able to take action by

avoiding or removing the objects. In this case the field named Space-Traffic management

attempts to accomplish this specific task. However, due to the nature of space travel created by

the “Space Race” each organization in charge of specific inoperative satellites track the targets in

much different manners, many times causing a discrepancy of the exact location of debris

(Witze, 2018). This along with the factors that encompass space travel hardens the quest for safe

space travel. In addition, the further the objects are from low earth orbit and venturing into a

deeper orbit the more difficult it is to have a better idea of the problem that is space junk. Over
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 10

time additional impactful calls for action were made such by the astronomers in charge following

the WT1990F (Watson). The attention benefits this study in that the acknowledgement has

highlighted the existence of unnoticed and unrecorded debris.

Ways to Reduce: Ways to “clean up” space

There are numerous leading ideas on how to prevent the space debris problem from

developing further, some of which have been previously discussed. The real issue lies in

reducing the current volume of debris. While it is predicted that all space debris orbiting Earth

will fall to the surface within several years’ time, NASA’s NanoRacks-Remove Debris satellite

seeks to do the job sooner. The satellite utilizes 3D cameras to spot, map, and intercept debris

using a deployable net, which serves to reduce the threat of station damage. This could be a

means of retrieving and reducing the orbital debris, as well reduce the sheer number of onset

damages to space stations in low Earth orbit (Smith, 2018). Other technologies have also been

under innovation by peer companies that look to aid the situation. Many of these organizations’

proposed solutions hold similar promise; such as the idea of using rays of plasma to target LEO

debris. General Electric, for one, has been developing another anti-debris project that could work

alongside NASA’s satellites. The mission, RemoveDebris, has been funded by the EU to make

headway into a resolution (Forshaw, 2017). These missions are the first to directly address and

dismantle the current mass of debris, and gives a good look at how the problem can be fixed in

the coming years

While these two missions show good ideas of solutions that can and more importantly

need to be implemented, there is still room for other solutions to make their case. Another

solution was put into place by the International Space Station back in 2012, before the Japanese

lab released their solutions. The CubeSats (a miniaturized satellite used for space research
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 11

purposes) have been sitting in orbit collecting data on precisely how these objects move about

our atmosphere so that they may be targeted for removal. One particular model proposes using

the Sun’s energy to destroy the junk. However the more immediate option would be to use a

large net to bring the junk back down to Earth (Swatling 2019), as mentioned with the

NanoRacks-Remove Debris program. NASA has also created another program to try and combat

the Space junk problem, however, the project lacks the significant funding necessary to push it to

completion. The Orbital Debris Program, started by NASA back in 1979, has been held up in

their progress stating that their program cannot be completed without the corporations of the

other nations with investment in the industry, asserting that cleaning our atmosphere is going to

be a true global effort (Dunbar, et al, 2017).

Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 12

Discussion of Results

Lack of Measures: How does Space junk affect space travel

To truly understand the task at hand, it is key to understanding the growth of space junk

in both the low-earth and high-earth orbits. Moreover, as time passes one can conclude with the

current exponential growth of the debris that the task will be widening with no particular

solution. The imminent threat of space junk could result in catastrophic results which lead

towards loss of property, damage and potentially human life as the human race continues its path

of exploration across space.

One collision in space leads to another as the debris tends to scatter and split to form

smaller and equally lethal shards. The shards are able to travel anywhere in the immense earth

orbit. In relation to the past the objects could go as far as the high earth orbit and towards the

moon undetected. In continuation although the majority of the concentration of the debry lingers

around the low-end orbit as more spacecraft become “out of service”, space junk will have a

larger likelihood of colliding with other debris that may not be trackable. Thus, this leads to an

accumulation of vast untrackable junk that spreads far out of orbit which may become too dense

to handle and overcome. This calls for action in order to more effectively and efficiently track

the problem. Only then, with an effective system, will the problem truly become understandable

and show its significant magnitude.

Preventative Measures: How to Mitigate Space Debris

The first step to cleaning Earth’s atmosphere of debris is mitigating the chance of a

collision occurring in low Earth orbit. Orbital-use fees help remedy the issue by putting a price
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 13

on keeping objects in space. These fees can also help cut down on the life of satellites and

change the need for sustainability of orbital vehicles. Best of all, this change will increase the

ongoing value of the space industry by generating annual revenue which can then be circulated

back into the next mission. Laying the groundwork for a global space economy now would pave

the way for greater advancements to occur down the line.

If an agreement can be reached with the other space industry investors, a new economy

can be created on the basis of Orbital-use Fees. This business model is projected to increase the

current value of the industry four fold within ten years. The wealth generated by these fees

would be circulated across the globe and allow for breathtaking new innovation in tech to occur

internationally, thus pushing modern science to new heights. Orbital-use Fees will therefore not

only lessen the financial impact of routine maintenance, but also encourage foreign trade. Once

the current volume of space debris is eliminated, these fees will continue on to promote growth

within the industry. This does however necessitate that removal programs are funded and put in

place in order to begin reducing that volume.

A method of reduction that is fiscally reasonable would be to track the debris and

satellites that are currently in orbit. By tracking these objects and predicting their flight paths,

newly launched vehicle flight paths can be planned to avoid these objects to reduce the collision

risk. This is important because by reducing the chance of collisions, the amount of debris created

by collisions will be reduced. Thus, reducing the total amount of debris in orbit around the Earth.

Ways to Reduce: Ways to “clean up” space

These methods to resolve the problem are concepts that try to combat the issue in an

efficient and attainable way. On an economic level, the primary opposing factor is the severe
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 14

lack of funding -which prevents these ideas and concepts from becoming an essential part of the

solution movement. Consequently, if proper funding were fiscally allocated (with the assistance

of Orbital-use Fees), the space junk problem could start its undertaking much sooner. As a result,

nations would finally be able to put a cap on debris and make sure that no more could be put into

space. The NanoRacks-Remove Debris satellite would likely be the most effective solution if

having to choose which solution to implement. Using its innovative nets to accomplish the

cleaning process ensures a more streamlined, simpler and economically friendly manner to this

delicate and complex process.

This research shows that the means to eliminate pollution from the atmosphere is within

reach, but that it has not been given the necessary attention to responsibly address a problem of

its magnitude. It also shows that both the industry and the community are well aware of the

issue. Few, though, have acknowledged how easily the situation can get worse. This research

proves that space junk is a pressing hindrance to the space industry, one that people recognize, as

well as one that can be solved. Worldwide, people that realize that space junk is a problem are

beginning to try and help stop it. The reduction is still a global effort, but with a common cause

of space expansion and reliability it ensures the commitment of all the people involved.
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 15

Conclusion

Space junk, if left unattended, will continue to impact the space industry both financially

and literally. This will endanger astronauts, impede our global network of satellites, and put

space explorations millions of dollars behind in progress. With better tracking we can make sure

that the issue is understood to its full extent most of the time rather than having rogue debris

making their way into valuable space assets scattered around the earth’s sky. Moreover, this

research also demonstrates that through multiple solutions such as the NanoRacks-Remove

Debris satellite, space junk has viable options to be tackled and cleaned. However, without

awareness and financial support from governments as well as a push for a change, the issue will

remain unsolved. Unfortunately, much like sending the same satellites that are polluting the

orbits, the financial aspect of cleaning is costly.

The space industry has proven itself to be a key component to our future as a species, but

it is partial to major setbacks that come in a variety of dangerous and unpredictable forms. There

are solutions to these setbacks, but in order to commit and improve the space industry with the

plans we have proposed, it is important that this issue is seen as not just a mission to clean up our

atmosphere, but as a big step forward in ridding our planet of pollution. This is not an optional

task on our departure to the stars, this is a hurdle that humanity must surpass if we are to

continue. Without making an investment in today’s waste, the future of space exploration will be

at risk. Space debris is a large problem, but it is a problem that can be solved within the next few

decades. Thank you for your time and consideration in reading this report. If you have any

questions or concerns, please contact one of the authors via email.

Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 16

References

Burgess, M (2020, May 25). Solving the space junk Problem. Cires.

https://cires.colorado.edu/news/solving-space-junk-problem

Danger: orbital debris. (2018, May 04). Aerospace. Retrieved October 14, 2020, from

https://aerospace.org/article/danger-orbital-debris

Cooney, J. S. (2018, October 28). International Space StationOrbital Debris Collision

Avoidance Process [Slideshow]. Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies Technology Day,

Greenbelt, MD. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20160012726

About space debris. (n.d.). The European Space Agency. Retrieved October, 2020, from

https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Space_Debris/About_space_debris

Schaper, E. (1999). UN call for action to clear up space junk. Nature 400, 499. https://www-

nature-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/articles/22833#citeas

Forshaw, J. (2017, May 15). How can we fix the space junk problem? A net and harpoon, say

aerospace engineers. General Electric. https://www.ge.com/news/reports/can-fix-space-

junk-problem-net-harpoon-say-aerospace-engineers

Swatling, T. (2018). What is space junk?[eBook edition]. Gareth Stevens Publishing LLLP.

https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/lib/erau/reader.action?

docID=5539988

Smith, Y. (2018, September 20). Small satellite demonstrates a possible solution for “space

junk”. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/researching-how-best-to-remove-

space-junk
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 17

U.S. government orbital mitigation standard practices. (2007, February). NASA. Retrieved

October, 2020, from

https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/library/usg_od_standard_practices.pdf

Watson, T. (2015). Falling junk has scientific value. Nature, 526(7575), 621-622.

http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-

com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/1728876715?accountid=27203

O’Callaghan, J. (n.d.). What is space junk and why is it a problem?. Natural History Museum.

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-space-junk-and-why-is-it-a-problem.html

Witze, A. (2018). The quest to conquer Earth’s space junk problem. Gale Academic Onefile.

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p=AONE&u=embry&id=GALE|A572889987&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=185a8bfd
Pollution in Orbit: SETBACK OR CRISIS? 18

Glossary

European Space Agency (ESA): Intergovernmental organization consisting of 22 member

states. The organization is tasked and focused on the exploration of space and spaceflight. It is

based in Paris, France.

High Earth Orbit: Orbit centered around Earth that is located beyond the altitude of 35,786 km.

Generally associated with orbits that last longer than 24 hours due to the distance required to

complete a cycle.

Low Earth Orbit: Orbit centered around Earth that is located between the 160 km and 1,000 km

altitude above the planet’s surface. This orbit is generally associated with the general operating

altitude of satellites.

Space-Traffic management: Area of the field consisting in the safe access in space operations.

This field specializes in providing routes for spacecraft free of radio-frequency interference as

well as physical collision avoidance between objects in space.