The 2019 U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices

The rapid expansion of space traffic enabled by the SmallSat revolution has enabled unparalleled opportunity for commercial, educational, and national interests. However, it is an ongoing truth of space operations that the number of functioning spacecraft in orbit is vastly exceeded by non-functional orbital objects that can destroy them. As with any other environment, orbital space is easily polluted by human activities, and at some point the pollution can significantly degrade the usefulness of that environment. Today, there are more threats to more spacecraft than ever before, and the current accelerated growth of space activity consequently accelerates the growth of its risks. As early as 1988, US national space policy established the priority to protect the space environment. Subsequently NASA and the US Department of Defense made first efforts on formal standard practices to control space debris as early as 1993. Their work was expanded with the participation of all involved US agencies in the publication of the first US Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) document in 2001. That document mandated minimum design and operations practices to best preserve the orbital environment with prudent, low-cost, mandatory steps. Subsequently, global coordination through the Interagency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has propagated many of these practices to all space-faring powers with varying levels of success, and has elevated orbital debris mitigation to be a global concern. Each US agency implements the standard practices within their own official regulatory/safety documents, such as NASA’s standard 8719.14 and DOD’s Directive 3100.10, and others. In the last decade innovative new practices, concepts, and massive constellation proposals have opened “future space” to realities not envisioned in the 2001 standard practices document. Therefore, under Presidential Space Policy Directive #3 (June 8, 2018) all US space-related agencies were directed to coordinate a major revision to the ODMSP to reflect expected best practices for this new era in space. This revised document was approved by the National Space Council in December 2019, and is reprinted here. All US agencies with any certification or development authority over space launchers and/or spacecraft are now working to assure compliance of their internal standards with these practices. In addition, a 2025 list of recommendations (non-mandatory) from the 18th Space Wing at the Central Space Operations Center introduces addition details of design and operations that are all useful in reducing the risks in small satellite operations. This document is proposed for revision as well. No matter the intended function of a space object or launch vehicle, its certification for flight by any US agency will now depend upon meeting the minimum set of debris mitigation practices of the 2019 ODMSP. Additionally, good recommended practices are embodied in the 2015 Recommendations for Optimal CubeSat Operations. Both documents are included with this presentation. The attached presentation slides highlight all ODMSP requirements, especially key new expected practices for large constellations, active debris removal, and un-trackable or minimallytrackable swarms. This paper consists of two exhibits: the 2019 ODMSP and the 2015 JSpOC Recommendations. TABLE 1: U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, November 2019 Update PREAMBLE The United States Government (USG) Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) were established in 2001 to address the increase in orbital debris in the near-Earth space environment. The goal of the ODMSP was to limit the generation of new, long-lived debris by the control of debris released during normal operations, minimizing debris generated by accidental explosions, the selection of safe flight profile and operational configuration to minimize accidental collisions, and postmission disposal of space structures. While the original ODMSP adequately protected the space environment at the time, the USG recognizes that it is in the interest of all nations to minimize new debris and mitigate effects of existing debris. This fact, along with increasing numbers of space missions, highlights the need to update the ODMSP and to establish standards that can inform development of international practices. This 2019 update includes improvements to the original objectives as well as clarification and additional standard practices for certain classes of space operations. The improvements consist of a quantitative limit on debris released during normal operations, a probability limit on accidental explosions, probability limits on accidental collisions with large and small debris, and a reliability threshold for successful postmission disposal. The new standard practices established in the update include the preferred disposal options for immediate removal of structures from the near-Earth space environment, a low-risk geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) transfer disposal option, a long-term reentry option, and improved move-away-and-stay-away storage options in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and above GEO. The update also incorporates new sections to clarify and address operating practices for large constellations, rendezvous and proximity operations, small satellites, satellite servicing, and other classes of space operations. The updated standard practices are significant, meaningful, and achievable. The 2019 ODMSP, by establishing guidelines for USG activities, provides a reference to promote efficient and effective space safety practices for other domestic and international operators. The USG intends to update and refine the ODMSP as necessary in the future to address advances in both technology and policy. The USG will follow the ODMSP, consistent with mission requirements and cost effectiveness, in the procurement and operation of spacecraft, launch services, and the conduct of tests and experiments in space. When practical, operators should consider the benefits of going beyond the standard practices and take additional steps to limit the generation of orbital debris. Together with continued development of standards and best practices for space traffic management, the updated ODMSP will contribute to safe space operations and the long-term sustainability of space activities.