space debris and challenges to safety of space activity · the investigated structures of...

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FEDERAL SPACE AGENCY OF RUSSIA

SPACE DEBRIS

AND CHALLENGES TO SAFETY

OF SPACE ACTIVITY

Yuriy Makarov, Dmitriy GorobetsFederal Space Agency

Michael YakovlevCentral Research Institute of Machine Building

The International Interdisciplinary Congress on Space Debris

Montreal

May 7-9, 2009

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• The time have come when space debris poses the real risk for long term

sustainable space activity, also for people safety and property on the Earth

surface.

• Each following launch of a space vehicle at long last leads to creation of

new space debris. Moreover, studies indicate that beyond the middle of

current century the self-collision fragments will outnumber decaying

debris, and force the total debris population to increase.

• Taking into account that space have got more deeply in all fields of activity

of states and individuals, any limitation of space activity can lead to

negative influence on economy of states and international relations up to

development of potential conflicts.

• So, space debris problem that have to be decided, concerns not only

aspects of space engineering and space technologies, but also affects the

social and economic development of states and their national security.

Man-made orbital debris poses an increasing risk to space vehicles

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Regulation of Activity on Space Debris Mitigation

• national standards on space debris mitigation;

• international agreements on space debris mitigation;

• international standards on designing and operation of space assets in

order to minimize future space debris population;

• licensing the organizations - designers and operators of space assets on

the basis of the developed international standards on space debris

mitigation;

• restriction of the space market for the designers and operators of space

assets who don’t carry out the requirements of international standards;

• development and implementation of “space traffic management”;

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U N C O PU O S G uide line s on Space D e bris M itigation

IAD C G uide line s on Space D e bris M itigation

Lice nsing of

O pe rators of Space

Ve hicle s

Inte rnational

S tandards

on Space D e bris

Lice nsing of Space

Ve hicle s D e signe rs

N ational S tandards on Space D e bris

N A T I O N A L S P A C E A C T I V I T Y

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY ON SPACE DEBRIS PROBLEM

Scheme of Responsibility for Development of Normative

and Technical Documentation on Debris Mitigation

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• In June, 2007 at its 62nd session, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of

Outer Space (hereafter – the Committee) endorsed the Space Debris

Mitigation Guidelines (Ref. Doc. is A/62/20).

• The COPUOS Guidelines are based on the technical content and the basic

definitions of the IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, taking into

consideration the United Nations treaties and principles on outer space.

• The COPUOS agreed that its approval of the voluntary guidelines for the

mitigation of space debris would increase mutual understanding on

acceptable activities in space and thus enhance stability in space-related

matters and decrease the likelihood of friction and conflict.

• The COPUOS Guidelines were subsequently endorsed by the General

Assembly in its resolution 62/217 of 21 December, 2007.

UN COPUOS Document on Debris Mitigation

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Design & Operation Practices

(ISO/National Activities)

Hierarchy of Documents on Space Debris

Mitigation

IADC Support to SD

Mitigation Guidelines (additional technical

information)

Level 1

How it should be done? (technical requirements)

Level 2

What should be done?

Level 3

Basic

Principles

IADC SD

Mitigation Guidelines

TECHNICAL ISSUESUN -

UN COPUOS -

S&TSC UN COPUOS -

Space Debris Mitigation

Guidelines

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Licensing of Operators

and Designers(ISO/National Activities)

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Top Priorities of the Russian Federation Space Activity

Safety control

of

space activity

Assurance of ecological safety of space activity, implementation of

technologies and the designs minimizing production of space debris at

launch and operation of spacecraft and orbital stations

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• Deployment of orbital satellite groupings for supporting communications, TV

and radio broadcasting, navigation, ERS, hydrometeorology, basic space

research, defense, thus satisfying the national security, social, economic and

science sectors requirements.

• Assured space access and autonomy of the Russian Federation space activity

within the whole range of the missions to be realized owing to construction of

a launch site on the country’s territory for operating science- and economy-

oriented spacecrafts.

• Fulfillment of international obligations including the ISS commitments,

completion of the ISS Russian Segment buildup and enhancement of its

scientific application payoff

• Exploration of Solar system planets and celestial bodies focused on obtaining

profound knowledge about the surrounding world, utilizing extraterrestrial

resources, studying the Earth climate evolution mechanisms, searching for

exobiota

The Keystones of the Russian Federation Space Policy

up to 2020 and Beyondapproved by the PRESIDENT of the RUSSIAN FEDERATION, April, 2008

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International Scientific Optical Network (ISON)

ISON is an open international non-government project mainly aimed at being a free

source of information on space objects for scientific analysis

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400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Высота перигея, км

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

Числ

о о

бъ

ект

ов в

100 к

м с

лое 2003 2005 2007 2009

Space Debris Modelling

• It was shown that within the

last two years the velocity of

enhancement of debris

population may be assessed

as unprecedented. It 4 times

exceeds the average speed of

growth of debris population for

all previous years.

• In 2009 the debris population

in the range of debris

concentration maximum was

enhanced up to 2.6 times in

comparing with 2003.

In 2008 the parameters of the

Russian Standard on Debris

Model were updated applying

the accessible data

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ISS Protection Against Space Debris Fragments

• Projectile – Al pellet of 10,72 mm in diameter, velocity ~ 6 km/s. Impact angle ~ 45o.

• The investigated structures of equivalent weight:

A - combination of mesh shield with continuous shield (Russian proposal).

B - combination of two continuous shields (as it used at the ISS).

A. Second shield –

without through breakdown(The first shield was made from the steel

mesh of special weaving)

B. Second shield –

through breakdown(The first continuous aluminum shield)

HIGH VELOCITY IMPACT EXPERIMENTS

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Compliance of Roscosmos Activity in Space Debris Mitigation

with the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines

№/№The UN Principle

of Space Debris

Mitigation

The measures undertaken

in the space vehicles design and operation

1 Limit debris

released during

normal

operations

• Not to release space debris fragments for “Briz-M”, “DM” orbital stages , 3-rd

stage (block “I”) of “Soyuz-2” launcher during normal operations.

• Not to release space debris fragments for spacecraft during normal

operations .

2

Minimize the

potential for

break-ups during

operational

phases

• Strengthening of constructive materials of space vehicles and using of

shields around fuel tanks, high pressure vessels not to admit accidental

break-ups and to protect against impact of meteors and space debris

fragments.

• At spacecraft of “Ekran” type to prevent explosions of the detonating gas

that is being produced by the silver-cadmium batteries, the said batteries

were changed to the nickel-hydrogen ones.

• In case of orbital stages of “DM” type the minimizing of the potential for

break-ups is provided due to presence of relief dampers on fuel tanks and gas

cylinders.

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№/№The UN Principle

of Space Debris

Mitigation



3 Limit the

probability of

accidental

collision in orbit

• Guaranteed withdrawal of orbital stages from the launched spacecraft is

being undertaken thus decreasing the probability of dangerous collisions.

• In case of the International Space Station (ISS) the estimation of probability

of collisions with large debris fragments is being carried out on a regular

basis. Maneuvers of the ISS for leaving from dangerous fragments are

envisioned thus decreasing the probability of collisions.

4 Avoid intentional

destruction and

other harmful

activities

• Intentional destructions are prohibited at all launchers, apogee motors and

spacecraft developed by Roscosmos.

5 Minimize

potential for

post-mission

break-ups

resulting from

stored energy

•The pressure release from fuel tanks is made in case of orbital stages after their

withdrawal from the launched spacecraft

•In case of orbital stages of “DM” type the following procedures are

implemented: the removal of the remainders of fuel of the sustainer, a burning

out of the remainders of fuel from SOZ engine after separation of spacecraft, a

discharge of onboard storage batteries.

•In case of spacecraft of “Express” and “Gonets” types the following procedures

are implemented: termination of rotation of handwheels, gyros and other

mechanical devices, removal of the remainders of fuel under large pressure, a

discharge of chemical sources of a current.



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№/№ The UN Principle of

Space Debris

Mitigation



6 Limit the long-term

presence of

spacecraft and

launch vehicle orbital

stages in the low

Earth orbit (LEO)

region after the end

of their mission

• At the end of mission at presence of a fuel reserve the orbital stage

"Frigat" is disposed with the subsequent splashing down.

• In case of orbital stages of “DM” type after separation of spacecraft it is

flooded by the last momentum pulse of the sustainer.

• In case of spacecraft "Monitor" type its disposal is envisioned from to

lower orbit, providing braking of space vehicle and combustion in an

atmosphere.

• In a design of spacecraft “Sterkh” the capability of reduction in time of

its presence in an orbit by change of a configuration of solar arrays is

incorporated.

7 Limit the long-term

interference of

spacecraft and

launch vehicle orbital

stages with the

• The newly designed geostationary spacecraft disposal to a burial zone

(the IADC formula and eccentricity less than 0.003) is envisioned after

the end of their mission



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Прогноз эволюции превышения высоты перигея КА

АМ11 над высотой ГСО на ближайшие 10 лет, км

230

240

250

260

270

280

290

300

24.3.06 6.8.07 18.12.08 2.5.10 14.9.11 26.1.13 10.6.14 23.10.15

Disposal of the Emergency S/C “Express AM-11” from GEO

• The emergency of “Express AM-11”

took place on 29.03.2006.

• The prospective reason was a

depressurization of a contour of the

heat-carrier as a result of impact

with mechanical object.

• Disposal of the emergency S/C from

the protected GEO region was

performed since 30.03.2006 till

7.04.2006.

• 10 disposal burns was done totally. The first one was done by the correction

engine. Another 9 burns were done by using of orientation engines.

• Orbital parameters of the S/C “Express AM-11” after disposal:

apogee - GEO + 324 km,

perigee - GEO + 266 km,

eccentricity = 0,00026.

Long term perigee evolution of the disposed

“Express AM-11”

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THE 26-th MEETING OF THE INTER-AGENCY SPACE DEBRIS

COORDINATION COMMITTEE (IADC)

MOSCOW - 2008

Deputy Head of

Roscosmos

Vitaliy DavidovGreetings

to the IADC

delegates

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F:/the 26-th IADC/imagepages/0001.html


F:/the 26-th IADC/index.html


F:/the 26-th IADC/imagepages/00099z009n.html



F:/the 26-th IADC/index.html





F:/the 26-th IADC/index3.html





F:/the 26-th IADC/index4.html



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NATIONAL STANDARD OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

“General Requirements to Spacecraft and Orbital Stages

on Space Debris Mitigation”

General requirements to design and operation of spacecraft and orbital stages

to assure space debris mitigation .

(had come into force on January 1, 2009)

• The common requirements to space vehicles are established to limit the space debris population

in Near Earth Space

• The requirements should be applied to new designed and updated space vehicles of all types:

civil, science (including deep space investigations), commercial, military and manned missions.

• Application of the requirements of the standard must be putted into practice during the all

stages of the life of space means: designing, manufacturing, launch, operation and disposal.

• The requirements of the NATIONAL STANDARD OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION were

harmonized with the UN Mitigation Guidelines

Development of Russian Standards on Space Debris Mitigation

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The Forecast of Risk Events in

Near Earth Space

The Forecast of Dangerous

Conjunctions

The Forecast of

Particle Impact

Asteroid and Meteoroid Population and Risk

Assessment Modelling

Data Analysis, Catalogues Management,

Decision - Making

Essential Data Output Data Presentations

Catalogues of Space

Objects

Observational Data, etc.

Data Processing and the Operative Tasks

Solution Software

TSNIIMASH, Mission Control Centre

Data from INTERNET

The Automated Risk Warning System in a Near-Earth Space

DATA BASE

ROSCOSMOSNASA, ESA, another

Agencies

Russian Academy of

Science, Ministry of

Defense, etc.

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Development of “Space Traffic Management”

The future set of documents and procedures on space traffic management

will be international inter-governmental agreements that contain three

parts:

Securing the Information Needs

• Defines necessary data (on trajectories as well as radio frequencies).

• Sets provision for the data (sources, governmental as well as private, etc.)

• Establishes a database and distribution mechanisms for data, etc.

Notification System

• Sets pre-launch notification (better data than Registration Convention).

• Provides information on the end of operational lifetime.

• Provides pre-notification of orbital maneuvers and active de-orbiting.

Traffic Management

• Provides traffic management rules based on the use of the database for

the purpose of collision avoidance

• Clarifies "space objects", including legal distinction between valuable

objects and valueless space debris.

• Clarifies "fault" and/or liability in case of damage caused in outer space

with regard to the implications of traffic rules, etc.

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Space Debris and Challenges to National Security

Space debris issues are connected with aspects of national security of

states by the following reasons:

• debris environment reflects the background - target conditions which

is necessary for planning any operation in space;

• space debris may be used as a legend to cover military action against

any space asset, for example by using of small-sized (invisible)

satellites;

• pretext of space debris allow to catch an excuse for beginning of

military action if the situation produced by debris will be interpreted as

an encroachment on rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in

space;

In order to exclude pre-conflict situations it is desirable to assure the

transparency of space activities whether it concern civil or military

assets.

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Space Debris and Challenges to National Security

• Highly important is the UN COPUOS space debris mitigation principle

not to create intentionally long-lived space debris because it

establishes limitations on tests of any anti-satellite systems and

decreases the danger of collisions.

• The question of increasing urgency is an active removal of a large

debris fragments from the actively used orbits. However it is necessary

to determine the rules of identification of space objects as debris.

• Unified rules on space traffic management may lead to some limitations

that contradict conventional understanding of interests of national

security.

• With the aim to preserve Space in order to increase knowledge,

discovery, economic prosperity the question about “space traffic

management” may be discussed at the international level under

condition not to create any unilateral advantages for any participant of

space activity.

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• Orbital debris poses a risk to continued reliable use of space-based services

and operations and to the safety of persons and property in space and on

Earth. Space debris problem concerns not only space engineering and space

technologies, but also the social and economic development of states and

their national security.

• Coordinated efforts of space faring nations have produced the fundamental

documents on space debris mitigation: the “IADC Space Debris Mitigation

Guidelines” and the UN COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines that

was endorsed by the UN General Assembly.

• The Russian Federation supports the UN COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation

Guidelines and actively introduces the corresponding requirements into

national practices on space debris mitigation.

• The further step – “Space traffic management” may be studied as an

impendent measure owing to escalating intensity of space activity in

conditions of limited orbital resources. This step will demand the holistic

approach at which all aspects of space activity should be considered taken

together.

SUMMARY

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Thank you for your attention!

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SPACE DEBRIS AND CHALLENGES TO SAFETY

OF SPACE ACTIVITY

Yuriy Makarov, Dmitriy Gorobets Federal Space Agency, 41, Shepkina Str., Moscow, 129857 Russia

Michael Yakovlev Central Research Institute of Machine Building,

4 Pionerskaya Str., Korolev, Moscow Region, 141070 Russia

ABSTRACT Space debris poses a risk to continued reliable

use of space-based services and operations and to the

safety of persons and property in space and on the

Earth. Space active parties intend to minimize space

debris population being created by the governmental

and non-government operations in space in order to

preserve the space environment for current and future

generations.

Nevertheless, various situations caused by space

debris can be interpreted as the threat to assets

deployed on orbit. The report is devoted to analysis of

such situations and to the existing and future

regulations of space debris problems. Possible ways are

analyzed what to do to prevent non adequate response.

INTRODUCTION

Space is common house for all mankind. Each

launch of a space vehicle independently of its

significance, at long last leads to creation of new space

debris.

On 10th February 2009, an unpredicted accident

occurred in space when an inactive Cosmos-2251

satellite and an active commercial Iridium-33 satellite

collided in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of about 800

kilometers above Siberia. Consequently, a large cloud

of space debris was created which could remain in orbit

possibly for decades and continue threatening other

active satellites.

The time have come when space debris generate

the real risk for prolonged reliable use of space assets,

for space market, and also for safety of people and

property both in space and on the Earth surface.

Realizing the approaching threats the space faring

nations are going to reduce creation of space debris to

save the space environment for the future generations.

This idea is the motivation of efforts being undertaken

by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination

Committee (IADC), the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO), the Scientific and Technical

Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful

Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and other

organizations in their attempts to work out the mutually

acceptable international documents on space debris

mitigation.

Fulfillment of measures on space debris

mitigation will demand an additional onboard power

resources, increase of space vehicle’s reliability and

prolonged mission duration. For example, in all

operational orbit regimes, space systems should be

designed not to release debris during normal operations.

So, widely used pyrotechnics should be replaced with

magnetic locks or other special mechanical devices

which are obviously not having separated elements.

Space vehicles that are terminating their operational

phases in orbits should be de-orbited or where

appropriate maneuvered into an orbit with a reduced

lifetime. Additional propellant budgets will be required

for disposal maneuvers. Moreover, fulfillment of

disposal maneuver will demand the increased reliability

of onboard electronics at the end of mission. These

requirements will lead to substantial growth of space

project’s cost.

As far as debris population will increase the

world community will search measures to influence

upon the states and the organizations that not execute

the requirements on debris mitigation. Limitations on

space activity of the states - infringers may be

introduced, for example, by introduction of quotas on

orbital resources. Taking into account the fact that

space gets into all fields of activity of the states and

individuals more deeply, any limitations of space

activity can lead to negative influence on economy of

states and international relations up to development of

potential conflicts in space. Thus, space debris problem is starting to go out

on the foreground of future organization of space

activity. Solution of space debris problems will

influence not only development of space engineering

and space technologies, but will be spread to social and

economic development of states and to the area of their

national security.

1. REGULATIONS OF ACTIVITY ON SPACE

DEBRIS MITIGATION

Regulation of activity on space debris mitigation

may include the following main directions:

coming into force of the national standards on space

debris mitigation;

2

coming into force of the international agreements on

space debris mitigation;

coming into force of the international standards on

designing and operation of space assets in order to

minimize future space debris population;

licensing the organizations - designers and operators

of space assets on the basis of the developed

international standards on space debris mitigation;

restriction of the space market for designers and

operators of space assets who don’t carry out the

requirements of international standards;

development and implementation of ―space traffic

management‖.

The stated scenarios can be considered from the

various points of view. On the one hand they reflect

natural reaction of the international community in

relation to infringers of ecological balance in the

natural areas representing the vital interest for the

further development of a human civilization. On the

other hand, introduction of mitigation measures at a full

scale will demand significant financial budgets and will

be implemented, first of all, by the states with advanced

economy, thus even more increasing their presence in

near-Earth space.

Space debris mitigation practice is developing

not quite effectively by all participants of space

activity. It may be explained by difficulties in

implementation of additional technical requirements,

and by poor understanding of the problem at all. In

particular, results of some researches show probability

of cascade multiplication of space debris at

achievement by them of a certain threshold

concentration in some orbits. Nevertheless at a number

of points the international community had advanced in

debris mitigation.

Figure 1. System of international cooperation in development of normative and technical documentation directed

on space debris mitigation

Now there is the fully formed international and

national scheme of responsibility for development of

normative and technical documentation directed on

space debris mitigation (see Figure 1).

In 2002 the Inter-Agency Space Debris

Coordination Committee (IADC) for the first time has

developed the ―IADC Space Debris Mitigation

Guidelines‖ [1] that is the set of technical requirements

to space vehicles and space operations in order to

prevent enhancement of debris population. The most

successful practice of national space agencies in debris

mitigation is reflected in the said document.

Five years have passed, and in June, 2007 the

―UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

(COPUOS) Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines‖ have

been accepted (Ref. Doc. is A/62/20) on the basis of a

consensus [2]. The text of the document does not

contain quantitative definitions which rigidly would

limit conditions of application of space engineering.

The guidelines are applicable to mission planning and

operation of newly designed spacecraft and orbital

UN COPUOS Guidelines on Space Debris Mitigation

IADC Guidelines on Space Debris Mitigation

Licensing of Operators of Space

Vehicles

International Standards

on Space Debris

Licensing of Space

Vehicles Designers

National Standards on Space Debris

N A T I O N A L S P A C E A C T I V I T Y

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY ON SPACE DEBRIS PROBLEM

3

stages and, if possible, to existing ones. They are not

legally binding under international law. It is also

recognized that exceptions to the implementation of

individual guidelines or elements thereof may be

justified, for example by provisions of the ―United

Nations Treaties and Principles on Outer Space‖. The

Committee agreed that its approval of the voluntary

guidelines for the debris mitigation would increase

mutual understanding on acceptable activities in space

and thus enhance stability in space-related matters and

decrease the likelihood of friction and conflict.

In January, 2008 the UN General Assembly

endorsed the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines

(Ref. Doc. is A/RES/62/217). In 2001 the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) had started work to prepare an

international standards on space debris mitigation.

Some of the priority standards are listed below:

―Space systems — Orbital Debris – Management for

Debris Mitigation‖;

―Space systems —Unmanned Spacecraft, Estimating

Mass of Remaining Usable Propellant‖;

―Space systems — Launch Collision Avoidance‖;

―Space Systems — Orbit determination and

estimation – Process for Orbit Information Data

Exchange‖;

―Space Systems — Disposal of Satellites Operating

at Geosynchronous Altitude‖.

The above said documentation at all is the basis

for developing the national standards on space debris

mitigation. In such a way since the 1st of January, 2009

the National Standard of the Russian Federation on

space debris mitigation have come into force besides

the previously approved branch standards of the same

type. The requirements of National Standard have been

fully harmonized with the requirements of the UN

COPUOS Guidelines on Space Debris Mitigation.

The practice of licensing activity of the

organizations - designers and operators of spacecrafts

and orbital stages is being developed. Licensing is

based on the existing international documents on space

debris mitigation. For example, on June 21, 2004, the

United States Federal Communications Commission

(FCC) released a comprehensive set of debris

mitigation rules, including the disclosure requirement

rules for orbital debris mitigation [3].

It is important to emphasize that all accepted

international documents on debris mitigation are based

on the ―IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines‖.

This fact confirms the IADC role as the leading

international technical expert on space debris problem.

2. RUSSIAN ACTIVITY ON SPACE DEBRIS

PROBLEM

Since early ninetieth of the last century Russia

actively participate in all actions directed to solve the

problem. It is enough to tell that the official activity of

the IADC was started in 1993 at the meeting in

Moscow when the IADC Terms of Reference had been

adopted. Roscosmos delegation takes part in all

sessions of the IADC, ISO. Every year we present a

comprehensive report about activity on debris

mitigation to the Scientific and Technical

Subcommittee UN COPUOS.

Last year the President of the Russian Federation

approved The Keystones of the Russian Federation

Space Policy up to 2020 and beyond. This document

determines the top priorities of space activity such as:

Deployment of orbital satellite groupings for

supporting communications, TV and radio

broadcasting, navigation, ERS, hydrometeorology,

basic space research, defense, thus satisfying the

national security, social, economic and science

sectors requirements.

Assured space access and autonomy of the Russian

Federation space activity within the whole range of

the missions to be realized owing to construction of a

launch site on the country’s territory for operating

science- and economy-oriented spacecrafts.

Fulfillment of international obligations including the

ISS commitments, completion of the ISS Russian

Segment buildup and enhancement of its scientific

application payoff.

Exploration of Solar system planets and celestial

bodies focused on obtaining profound knowledge

about the surrounding world, utilizing extraterrestrial

resources, studying the Earth climate evolution

mechanisms, searching for exobiota.

Among the top priorities there is the Safety

Control of Space Activity that includes assurance of

ecological safety of space activity, implementation of

technologies and the designs minimizing production

of space debris at launch and operation of

spacecraft and orbital stations.

Some examples of our activity will be illustrated

below.

In field of space debris observation Russian

Space Surveillance System carries on the Catalogue of

space objects that is used for needed space operations,

for example for the ISS maneuvering and re-entry

campaigns. The Scientific Optical Instruments Network

for astrometric and photometric tracking of space

debris fragments was organized. The Network

integrates 18 observatories, 25 telescopes. The Network

includes three specialized subsystems –

GEO and GTO objects surveillance;

high orbit small-size space debris fragments detection

and tracking;

LEO and high elliptical orbit objects observation.

In 2008 effectiveness of the Network have been

enhanced by 2.5 times as compared with 2007. Due to

Network capabilities the number of known GEO

objects have increased more than 35%.

In field of space debris modeling Russian

specialists have updated the parameters of the Russian

4

Debris Model Standard. It was shown that within the

last two years the velocity of enhancement of debris

population is to be assessed as unprecedented. It 4

times exceeds the average speed of growth of debris

population for all previous years. In 2009 the debris

population in the range of debris concentration

maximum was enhanced up to 2.6 times in comparing

with 2003. Probability of collisions in space is

increased accordingly.

In field of screen protection against high velocity

debris impact the main efforts of Russian specialists are

concentrated around the International space Station

(ISS). As illustration of the achieved results there may

be mentioned the experimental data of aluminum

projectile impact on two-screen design models:

two layers of aluminum screen that is usual for ISS;

the design developed by the Russian specialists in

which the first layer of the screen is replaced with a

steel grid of special weaving.

In case of a steel grid the protected wall has only a dent

but not have been punched.

In field of space debris mitigation Roscosmos is

being implemented the Principles of the UN COPUOS

Debris Mitigation Guidelines in practice its own space

activity. The measures undertaken are as follows.

Principle 1 of the UN COPUOS Guidelines -

Limit debris released during normal operations.

Undertaken measures:

Not to release space debris fragments for ―Briz-M‖,

―DM‖ orbital stages , 3-rd stage (block ―I‖) of

―Soyuz-2‖ launcher during normal operations.

Not to release space debris fragments for spacecraft

during normal operations.


Minimize the potential for break-ups during operational

phases.


Strengthening of the constructive materials and

shielding of fuel tanks, high pressure vessels not to

admit accidental break-ups under impact of meteors

and debris fragments.

At spacecraft of ―Ekran‖ type to prevent explosions

of the detonating gas that is being produced in the

silver-cadmium batteries, the said batteries were

changed to the nickel-hydrogen ones.

In case of orbital stages of ―DM‖ type the

minimizing of the potential for break-ups is provided

due to presence of relief dampers on fuel tanks and

gas cylinders.


Limit the probability of accidental collision in orbit.


Guaranteed withdrawal of orbital stages from the

orbit of launched spacecraft is being undertaken thus

decreasing the probability of dangerous collisions.

In case of the International Space Station (ISS) the

estimation of probability of collisions is being carried

out on a regular basis. Maneuvers of the ISS are

envisioned thus decreasing the probability of

collisions.


Avoid intentional destruction and other harmful

activities.


Intentional destructions are prohibited at all

launchers, orbital stages and spacecraft developed by

Roscosmos.


Minimize potential for post-mission break-ups resulting

from stored energy.


The pressure release from fuel tanks is made in case

of orbital stages after their withdrawal from the

launched spacecraft

For orbital stages of ―DM‖ type the removal of

remainders of fuel, a discharge of batteries are

implemented.

For spacecraft of ―Express‖ and ―Gonets‖ types the

termination of rotation of mechanical devices,

removal of the remainders of fuel and discharge of

batteries are implemented.


Limit the long-term presence of spacecraft and launch

vehicle orbital stages in the low Earth orbit (LEO)

region after the end of their mission.


At the end of mission at presence of a fuel reserve the

orbital stages "Frigat", ―DM‖ are disposed with the

subsequent splashing down.

In case of spacecraft "Monitor" type its disposal is

envisioned from to lower orbit.

In spacecraft ―Sterkh‖ the reduction of orbital

lifetime is incorporated by change of solar arrays

configuration.


Limit the long-term interference of spacecraft and

launch vehicle orbital stages with the GEO region after

the end of their mission.


For newly designed GEO spacecraft disposal to a

burial zone is envisioned after the end of their

mission (in according with the IADC formula and

eccentricity less than 0.003).

One more example illustrates the Russian practice on

GEO disposal. This is the emergency situation of

―Express AM-11‖ in March 2006. The prospective

reason was a depressurization of the heat-carrier pipe

due to impact with mechanical object. Disposal of the

emergency S/C from the protected GEO region was

performed as result of 10 disposal burns. The first pulse

was done by correction engine. Another 9 pulses were

done by orientation engines. The resulted disposal

orbit was in according with the IADC requirements.

In April, 2008 Roscosmos hosted the 26-th

IADC Meeting. The meeting was held in Moscow. All

delegations (about 150 delegates) were present at the

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meeting. A number of questions were discussed such

as:

International space debris observational campaigns,

The study of the importance of non-GEO objects for

S/C in GEO,

Sensor systems to detect impacts on spacecraft

IADC Reentry Campaigns and many others.

The discussions taken place were useful to find the

ways of further investigations.

New Russian National Standard ―General

Requirements to Spacecraft and Orbital Stages on

Space Debris Mitigation‖ had come into force. The

requirements of the Standard should be applied to new

designed and updated space vehicles of different type:

civil, science, commercial, military and manned

missions. Application of the Standard requirements

spreads to all stages of life cycle of space vehicles:

designing, manufacturing, launch, operation and

disposal. The requirements of the Standard are fully in

line with the UN Mitigation Guidelines

In according with the Federal Space Program of

Russia the Automated Information & Analytical

System for Short- and Long-Term Prediction and

Warning of the Emergency Situations in Space have

been developed. Mission Control Center together with

NASA regularly analyze the close approaches between

ISS with other objects to assess the collision risks. If

hazardous situation occur a set of maneuvers to avoid

the dangerous space object is fulfilled by ISS. Such

maneuvers were realized on August last year and in

March this year. The Russian Mission Control Center

tracks the objects re-entering the upper atmosphere. In

this case special attention is paid to large-size space

objects or so called risk objects.

3. THE FURTHER STEPS IN ASSURANCE OF

SAFETY IN SPACE The further step in assurance of safety in space

may be so called ―Space Traffic Management‖ that was

proposed by International Academy of Astronautics in

its Report to the Science Technical Subcommittee UN

COPUOS [4]. ―Space traffic management‖ is being

understood as development and implementation of a set

of the normative documents and organizational

procedures providing safety of space activity at all

space mission stages. There is not supposed the need of

a unified structure for the control over space motion.

The problem can be solved within the limits of

interaction of the national and international

organizations executing mission control of space

objects, on the basis of the conventional agreements

and instructions. The Report proposes possible structure of the set

of documents and procedures on space traffic

management. The international inter-governmental

agreements envisioned would contain three parts:

Securing the Information Needs;

Notification System;

Traffic Management. Organization procedures for provision of inter-

governmental agreements may be as follows:

the provisions of the three agreements initially could

be monitored by UN Committee on the Peaceful

Uses of Outer Space and handled by the UN Office

for Outer Space Affairs.

subsequently, post 2020 the new agreement, together

with the existing space treaties, could be superseded

by a comprehensive Outer Space Convention.

As the first steps on space traffic improvement

the Report lists the following measures:

coordination and steady raising of efforts to establish

an unified policy and an infrastructure of

management of the Catalogue of observable space

objects (USA, ESA, Russia and others, including

the private organizations);

enforcement and checking mechanisms resulting in

obligatory notification / registration and the provision

of unified sets of relevant data for the objects

launched into outer space;

UN COPUOS should start discussing whether or not

space debris is space object in the sense used in space

law treaties.

The mutual consent of participants of space

activity on ―space traffic management‖ can be achieved

only on the basis of the international and

intergovernmental agreements on safe use of outer

space that should not substitute the ―United Nations

Treaties and Principles on Outer Space‖. Discussion of

―space traffic management‖ should be carried out in the

competent international organizations that enjoy

authority in respect to states and organizations of the

international community.

4. SPACE DEBRIS AND CHALLENGES TO

NATIONAL SECURITY OF STATES Space debris issues are connected with aspects of

national security of states by the following reasons:

debris environment reflects the background - target

conditions which is necessary for planning any

military action in space;

space debris may be used as a legend to cover

military action against any space asset, for example by

using of small-sized (invisible)satellites;

pretext of space debris allow to catch an excuse for

beginning of military action if the situation produced

rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space.

The example of potentially disputed situation is

the sudden failure of some military or important civil

spacecraft of any state. If the event cannot be explained

by observational data the possibility remains to explain

the failure as result of deliberate impact by using

invisible (for observational means of victim party)

satellites. So, it is especially important to agree the

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procedures of notification about launches and

maneuvers of small satellites in outer space. Visibility

of small satellites may be increased by using of special

radio beacons or angular reflectors which should be

envisioned in structure of their onboard equipment. In

case of absence of the said improvements space

systems customers should avoid application of poorly

visible satellites in orbits, especially in GEO. The UN COPUOS space debris mitigation

principle 4 - not to create intentionally long-lived space

debris – is especially meaningful because it establishes

limitations on tests of any anti-satellite systems and

decreases the danger of collisions. The question of increasing urgency concerns

capability of cleaning of the actively used orbits from

space debris. Such operations can be realized with use

of technologies of detection, approach, docking and

disposal of dangerous objects to a burial zone. However

it is necessary to determine the rules of identification of

space objects that should be deleted as useless ones and

relating to space debris. To carry out such operations

the more detailed description of mission purpose, the

spacecraft features and operation plan in orbit is

required for the Register of the United Nations. Just

now some of these data are not available especially in

case of military assets. Principles of free access to or use of space are

incorporated in the fundamentals of national policy of

all leading space faring nations. Unified rules on space

traffic management will be directed to prevent the

dangerous situations in space. Adoption of the said

rules may lead to some limitations that contradict

conventional understanding of interests of national

security in field of space activity. Any progress in space

traffic management will appear effective only in case

when it will be carried out on the basis of voluntary

adopted limitations for every participant of space

activity on basis of consensus.

With the aim to preserve Space in order to

increase knowledge, discovery, economic prosperity

the question about ―space traffic management‖ may be

discussed at the international level under condition not

to create any unilateral advantages for any participant

of space activity under condition not to create any

unilateral advantages for any participant of space

activity

CONCLUSION

Orbital debris poses a risk to continued reliable use

of space-based services and operations and to the

safety of persons and property in space and on Earth.

Space debris problem concerns not only space

engineering and space technologies, but also the

social and economic development of states and their

national security.

Coordinated efforts of space faring nations have

produced the fundamental documents on space debris

mitigation: the ―IADC Space Debris Mitigation

Guidelines‖ and the UN COPUOS Space Debris

Mitigation Guidelines that was endorsed by the UN

General Assembly.

The Russian Federation supports the UN COPUOS

Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and actively

introduces the corresponding requirements into

national practices on space debris mitigation.

The further step – ―Space traffic management‖ may

be studied as an impendent measure owing to

escalating intensity of space activity in conditions of

limited orbital resources. This step will demand the

holistic approach at which all aspects of space

activity should be considered taken together.

REFERENCIES

1. ―Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination

Committee Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines‖,

Abano Terme, Italy, 2002.

2. ―UN COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines‖,

62-nd session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful

Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria, 2007.

3. Second Report and Order of the Federal

Communications Commission, Parts 5, 25, and 97

Mitigation of Orbital Debris, IB Docket No. 02-54,

Washington, D.C. 20554, Released: June 21, 2004.

4. ―Cosmic study of Space Traffic Management‖, the

Report of International Academy of Astronautics to the

Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN

COPUOS, Veinna, Austria, 2006.