SpaceRef - Astronautics

SpaceRef - Astronautics - Space Debris

Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS) - CORDS was established by The Aerospace Corporation to focus the corporation's research and technology applications on the areas of space debris, collision avoidance, and reentry breakup and to provide a single point of contact for organizations seeking to take advantage of Aerospace's nearly 38 years of experience in these and related technical areas.

DebrisWeb - Debris Web provides information on space debris and related topics. Sponsored by eta max space GmbH.

Hypervelocity Impact Technology Facility - Hypervelocity impact tests are performed in a controlled laboratory environment so as to design effective shielding for spacecraft and to evaluate the risk posed by debris and meteoroids. NASA Johnson Space Center.

Interagency Report on Orbital Debris 1995 - In 1995, an Interagency Working Group under the direction of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Security Council revised and updated the 1989 Report on Orbital Debris. This revised report contains an up-to-date portrait of NASA's measurement, modeling, and mitigation efforts and a set of recommendations outlining specific steps NASA should pursue, both domestically and internationally, to minimize the potential hazards posed by orbital debris.

NASA LDEF Archive System - This website contains information on the inspections of retrieved LDEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility) surfaces and the benchmark data set of craters that were formed by the hypervelocity impact of natural meteoroids and man-made debris particles in low-Earth orbit (LEO). These data have been used to check and update mathematical predictions of cratering from natural meteoroids and man-made orbiting debris. NASA Langley Research Center.

Orbital Debris - A Technical Assessment - This 1997 report by the National Research Council Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board Committee on Orbital Debris characterizes the current orbital debris environment, projects how this environment might change in the absence of new measures to alleviate debris proliferation, and explore measures to address the problem, including further research on debris monitoring and modeling, and methods to minimize debris generation.

Orbital Debris Research at NASA-Johnson Space Center - NASA/JSC is the lead NASA center for orbital debris research. The orbital debris research team has taken the international lead in conducting measurements of the environment and in developing the technical consensus for adopting mitigation measures to protect users of the orbital environment.

Protecting the Space Shuttle from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris - This 1997 report by the National Research Council Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board Committee on Space Shuttle Meteoroid/Debris Risk Management assesses the Space Shuttle Program's strategy for assessing and mitigating the threat posed by the meteoroid or orbital debris environment and recommend alternate strategies where appropriate.

Protecting the Space Station from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris - This 1997 report by the National Research Council Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board Committee on International Space Station Meteoroid/Debris Risk Management assessed the International Space Station strategy for reducing the probability that the space station or its crew will be damaged or lost as a result of meteoroid or orbital debris impact and recommend alternate strategies where appropriate.

Space Debris Activities at ESA/ESOC - This website describes the various research activities underway at ESA's European Space Operations Centre with regard to orbital (space) debris and the hazards that this debris can pose to spacecraft.

Space Debris Basics - This website at the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS) provides an overview of space debris, risk management, and future issues.

Space Debris monitor (SDM) - SDM is a publication issued periodically by the Service for Monitoring of Space Objects (SMOS) of the CNUCE Spaceflight Dynamics Section to inform the Italian (and international) space community about space debris and reentry of uncontrolled space objects. The SMOS has been established at CNUCE under an agreement between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and CNUCE.

Space Debris Research Program at U.S. Air Force Research Lab - This page describes current research activities in space debris detection and modeling at the U.S. Air Force Research Lab

Space Debris, ESA, Mission Analysis Section at ESOC - This website describes the tracking, analysis, and modeling activities underway at the Mission Analysis Section of ESA's European Space Operations Centre with regard to space debris and the hazards that this debris can pose to spacecraft.

Spacecraft Reentry Breakup Basics - This website at the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS) provides an overview of how object reenter Earth's atmosphere and break up as they descend.