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Publication

Policy options to address collision risk from space debris

Romain Buchs
2021
Reports

Abstract

This IRGC policy brief focuses on the risk of collision from space debris. It provides a range of policy options and broad recommendations to improve the assessment, evaluation and management of collision risk, as well as its communication. It is based on a multi-stakeholder expert workshop held in May 2021 and follow-up exchanges with space debris experts.

Official source

Romain Buchs
2021
Reports

Abstract

Official source

Related concepts (13)

Traffic collision

A traffic collision, also called a motor vehicle collision (car crash in case cars are involved in the collision), occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other moving or stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. Traffic collisions often result in injury, disability, death, and property damage as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved.

Space debris

Space debris (also known as space junk, space pollution, space waste, space trash, space garbage, or cosmic debris) are defunct human-made objects in space - principally in Earth orbit - which no longer serve a useful function. These include derelict spacecraft - nonfunctional spacecraft and abandoned launch vehicle stages - mission-related debris, and particularly numerous in Earth orbit, fragmentation debris from the breakup of derelict rocket bodies and spacecraft.

Space elevator

A space elevator, also referred to as a space bridge, star ladder, and orbital lift, is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system, often depicted in science fiction. The main component would be a cable (also called a tether) anchored to the surface and extending into space. An Earth-based space elevator cannot be constructed with a tall tower supported from below due to the immense weight—instead, it would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end attached to a counterweight in space beyond geostationary orbit (35,786 km altitude).

Related publications (1)

Policy options to address collision risk from space debris

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