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Contents of this page:

Below, you will find videos, NASA recommendations, and pdf documents describing the space debris problem, including:

  1. Briefing materials sent to members of Congress
  2. Papers written by us (OG) and by industry experts.

After reviewing the contents of this page, the next step is to become familiar with our services.

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Visual Scope of Problem

Video #1 - This short video depicts the space debris population of various sizes.

  • Keep in mind, that a 1 cm debris object, traveling at 7.5 km/sec, packs the energy equal to a hand grenade.  Imagine that going off inside your refrigerator.
  • Today, 100M+ objects have been placed into orbit over 6,000 missions.  By the year 2029 (per FCC spectrum applications), there are expected to be 107,000 additional spacecraft, which extrapolates to ~1.8 trillion new debris objects.

Anomaly Case Study

Video #2 - Details a real world case study for an unlucky large satellite operator:

  • A publicly traded satellite communications operator tragically suffered what experts call a debris collision
  • The uninsured satellite sprung a propellant leak, which shortened its life by 15 years
  • As a result, investor revenue went down $678M across 2Q19 & 3Q19, cost $382M to replace satellite, and caused a $200M sales backlog reduction.  Total service restoration cost =  $1.26 billion.  Ouch!  Take a look below.

Debris Problem

Video #3 - Broadly describes the space debris problem.

NASA Recommendation

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office further states the danger of small space debris:  

  • "Remediation techniques need to focus on removal of small sized (but still damaging) debris"
  • "Current conjunction assessments and collision avoidance maneuvers against the tracked objects (which are typically 10 cm and larger) only address a small fraction (<1%) of the mission-ending risk from orbital debris"

Framework for STM

This framework describes the purpose of each STM objective.  While Active Debris Removal is the focus of OrbitGuardians, any STM service provider can leverage the STM Act of 2022 to acquire funding from their tax paying contributors to accomplish their STM objective (see below).

Space Traffic Management Act of 2022 (Funding Mechanism)

Space Debris Act of 2021

STM Act of 2022

  • STM Act of 2022 draft text for legislation
  • "We the People" must demand action
  • To incentivize financial contributions
  • $1 tax credit for $1 taxpayer contribution
  • $2 credit for $1 contributed in first 3 years
  • Limited to previous year tax liability
  • Must be legislated on Capitol Hill
  • Must be signed by POTUS
  • Must be implemented into IRS Code


Contributions then used for identifying orbital carrying capacity, space traffic footprint, risk assessments, prioritizations, policy, space situational awareness, mitigation, and active debris removal.

Contribute Now

OG Papers

A Critical Look at DHS and Orbital Debris (pdf)Download
The Critical Mass of Orbital Debris (pdf)Download
ADR funding: The elephant in the room (pdf)Download
Satellite Population Growth & Kessler Syndrome (pdf)Download
Wakeup Call for Active Debris Removal (pdf)Download

Congressional Brief

These files were provided to various members of the U.S. House of Representatives in order to push the Bill "Space Debris Act of 2021" toward the U.S. Senate and ultimately across POTUS's desk for signature to enact a tax credit for financial contributors within the Space Traffic Management umbrella of services.

00 Introduction (pdf)Download
01 STM Act of 2022 (pdf)Download
02 SPD-3 STM Policy (pdf)Download
03 U.S. Space Policy (pdf)Download
04 U.S. Orbital Debris R&D Plan (pdf)Download
05 NASA OIG Orbital Debris Audit (pdf)Download

OG Published Articles

GPS World, "Space Debris Endanger GPS"

19% of tracked space objects threaten GPS and other GNSS satellites. While there are many fewer objects in MEO than in LEO, the risk in the former is arguably greater because GPS is so critical to almost all of our technology.  Article covers background, false sense of security, and a proactive solution.

Read article

Industry Papers

NASA Orbital Debris Program Office Updates (pdf)Download
NASA History of Orbital Fragmentations (pdf)Download
ESA Contribution of NaK Droplets to Debris Environment (pdf)Download
NASA Radar Measurements of Orbital Debris Env (pdf)Download

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