Launch activity and orbital debris mitigation : second quarter 2002 Quarterly Launch Report
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Abstract:Since the start of human space activity, the number of orbital debris, or artificial objects orbiting Earth that are no longer functional,
has steadily increased. These debris make up 95 percent of all orbiting space objects and consist of spent satellites and upper stages, separation devices, bolts, paint chips, and still other spacecraft components. U.S. Space Command tracks more than 9,000 objects larger than ten centimeters wide with ground-based optical and radar telescopes; another 100,000 objects between one and ten centimeters are estimated to be orbiting Earth. While the risk of an orbital debris impact to an operational spacecraft is low, the debris
population continues to grow at 175 metric tons per year and has caused damage to active spacecraft. Indeed, orbital debris' presence is
apparent in the dings and dents observed on spacecraft such as the Space Shuttle, the Russian Mir space station, and the Hubble Space Telescope. As a result, efforts are underway in both the government and industry to mitigate orbital debris.
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