Meteoroids and Orbital Debris: Effects on Spacecraft

TLDR

The natural space environment, comprising meteoroids and man‑made orbital debris, poses complex hazards that increasingly threaten spacecraft design, development, and operations, especially as composite materials and high‑speed electronics become more common. The paper describes orbital debris sources, distribution, size, lifetime, and mitigation measures. This primer is part of a NASA Reference Publication series developed by the Electromagnetics and Aerospace Environments Branch at Marshall Space Flight Center.

Abstract

The natural space environment is characterized by many complex and subtle phenomena hostile to spacecraft. The effects of these phenomena impact spacecraft design, development, and operations. Space systems become increasingly susceptible to the space environment as use of composite materials and smaller, faster electronics increases. This trend makes an understanding of the natural space environment essential to accomplish overall mission objectives, especially in the current climate of better/cheaper/faster. Meteoroids are naturally occurring phenomena in the natural space environment. Orbital debris is manmade space litter accumulated in Earth orbit from the exploration of space. Descriptions are presented of orbital debris source, distribution, size, lifetime, and mitigation measures. This primer is one in a series of NASA Reference Publications currently being developed by the Electromagnetics and Aerospace Environments Branch, Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory, Marshall Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.