D-Orbit Suggests Means for Tackling Orbital Debris

A reduction in the 25-year rule, more work toward active space debris removal solutions and a dedicated and autonomous subsystem for satellite decommissioning would help reduce orbital debris proliferation, space services company D-Orbit said in an FCC docket 18-313 posting Monday. Satellites at orbits above 600 kilometers should be required to have propulsion capabilities for station-keeping and collision avoidance maneuvers, plus autonomous systems like propulsive modules for de-orbiting, it said. It urged requiring phasing between satellites when a number are deployed in the same orbit. Ideas to incentivize practices that would minimize orbital debris include a tax for every launch or object in orbit for every year of operations, or a deposit to licensing authorities, returned after end-of-life operations.