Update on the Development of ISO Standards for Space Debris Mitigation

Paper number

IAC-08.A6.4.2

Author

Dr. Hedley Stokes, PHS Space Ltd, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. William Ailor, The Aerospace Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. John Davey, British National Space Centre, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Roberto Destefanis, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. David Finkleman, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Akira Kato, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Year

2008

Abstract

The growth in man-made space debris, from the early 1960s to the present day, has now reached a level that is a cause for concern. Much of this debris is orbiting in valuable regions such as geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO), and has come from satellites and rocket bodies that have exploded, usually long after their missions have ended. In response to this growing hazard, organisations such as the Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and the United Nations (UN) within the past decade have published guidelines for the mitigation of space debris. These have raised awareness of the problem to the extent that many within the space industry subsequently have called for the development of an internationally-agreed set of space engineering standards aimed at mitigating debris.

To this end, ISO – the International Organisation for Standardisation – set up an Orbital Debris Coordination Working Group (ODCWG) in 2003 to initiate and oversee the development of a series of debris mitigation standards. The group mainly comprises space debris experts and industry representatives with extensive experience of space system design, operations and management. One of the primary remits of the group is to ensure that the content of the standards is consistent with the IADC and UN guidelines. Unlike the guidelines, though, the purpose of the standards is to provide engineers and operators with a set of measurable and verifiable space debris mitigation requirements and practices for implementation in future unmanned space projects. This must be achieved without providing an unfair competitive advantage to any organisation or country. Indeed, the published standards should provide the entire industry with long-term benefits, if universally adopted.

Several of the standards are now reaching a fairly mature state. This paper describes the latest developments and plans for completion of the standards. Special emphasis is given to the top-level standard, which comprises all of the high-level debris mitigation requirements. These include requirements pertaining to the release of mission-related objects, the avoidance of accidental and intentional break-ups, and the post-mission disposal of space systems operating in the GEO and LEO regions. Lower level standards, which contain detailed procedures and practices for implementing the requirements, will be discussed more broadly in terms of their scope and intent.

Abstract document

IAC-08.A6.4.2.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.A6.4.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.