Presented to:

By:

Date:

Federal AviationAdministrationOffice of

Commercial Space TransportationOrbital Debris

10 June, 2015

Symposium for the Small Payload and Rideshare Association (SPRSA)

Steph Earle, FAA AST-100

Steph Earle, PMPSpace Traffic Program Lead / Space Transportation Industry AnalystFederal Aviation AdministrationOffice of Commercial Space Transportation

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Expanding U.S. Commercial CapabilitiesSuborbital RLVs, ELVs with vehicle return capability, habitat demonstration

Bigelow Aerospace

XCOR Aerospace

Orbital Sciences Space X

Virgin GalacticArmadillo Aerospace and

Masten Aerospace

Blue Origin

We expect reusable LVs will launch small-sats – increased opportunities and revenue

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• Commercial remote sensing satellite

• Licensed by NOAA

• NGSO commercial communications satellite

• Licensed by FCC

• GEO satellite communications slot

• Allocated by ITU

• GEO satellite communications

• Licensed by FCC

• Commercial launch event

• Licensed by FAA

• Commercial launch event

• Licensed/Permitted by FAA

• Commercial Suborbital launch/reentry site

• Licensed/ by FAA

• Commercial orbital launch/reentry site

• Licensed/ by FAA

• Suborbital • Orbital

• NAS

Today’s Space Oversight Regime

• Commercial reentry event

• Licensed by FAA

• DOD provides safety of flight information services• Different agencies currently have oversight based upon the general mission of the objects• Interagency coordinates on regulations and safety requirements but some differences exist

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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 20180

10

20

30

40

50

US Commercial Launch Numbers by Year

LightMediumIntermediateHeavyOrbitalReentrySuborbitalSubortibal ProjectedReentry ProjectedOrbital Projected

Commercial Launch Growth

These could change significantly with breakthroughs.

Estimates derived from AST engagement with operators, including launch manifests; orbital and sub-orbital

Commercial Space Industry is Now a Reality; Poised for Strong Continued Growth

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Orbital Debris Guidance

2010 National Space Policycalls for “minimizing debris and preserving the space environment”

2013 National Space Transportation PolicyExecute exclusive authority, consistent with existing statutes and executive orders, to address orbital debris mitigation practices for U.S.-licensed commercial launches, to include launch vehicle components such as upper stages, through its licensing procedures.

Continue to follow the United States Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, consistent with mission requirements and cost effectiveness, in the procurement and operation of spacecraft, launch services, and the conduct of tests and experiments in space.

Guidance

International forums continue to stress standards to prevent debris creation on orbit

• Space Policy and Space Transportation Policy

• Inter-agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC)

• International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities between European Union and the U.S.

Rocket Bodies in LEO*

~1800 > 1,100,000 KG

* Data from 2014

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Current FAA Requirement

§ 417.129   Safety at end of launch.A launch operator must ensure for any proposed launch that for all launch vehicle stages or components that reach Earth orbit—

(a) No unplanned physical contact between the vehicle and the payload;

(b) Debris generation does not result from the conversion of energy sources into energy that fragments the vehicle or its components;

(c) Stored energy is removed by depleting residual fuel and leaving all fuel line valves open, venting any pressurized system, leaving all batteries in a permanent discharge state, and removing any remaining source of stored energy.

Policy cannot be directly levied on commercial operators except through rulemaking process.

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US Government StandardUS Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (USGODMSP)

Four objectives

1. Limit debris released during normal operations• Anything ≥ 5 mm must reenter within 25 years

2. Minimize debris generated by accidental explosions• Design spacecraft to limit risk • Safe spacecraft and upper stages at End of Mission

(EOM)

3. Select safe flight profile to minimize lifetime collision risk

4. Plan for cost effective EOM disposal procedures for spacecraft and upper stages

Current LV

Regulations

Reusable upper stages and new technologies for de-orbit

Current Typical

Practices

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FAA Orbital Debris Mitigation proposed changes

FAA has jurisdiction over rocket bodies (including upper stages) through the end of launch

Goal: Updated regulations would better align with the US Government Standard Practices

Challenge: Cost vs benefits must be analyzed

– Difficult to quantify– Rules that impose a cost to the

industry are hard to pass through the review process

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Launch Collision Avoidance• How does it look for a typical launch window

– Considering active satellites and known debris– Objects passing within 200 km of trajectory– Launch window closed when objects and vehicle could collide

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 200000

50

100

150

200

250

Close approaches by minimum distance for one hour launch window

km

Seconds

200 km limit of concern. Orbital

Objects

Launch Time; sweeps through window. All approaches within 200km identified.

Congestion building as we squeeze more objects into the same space!

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Debris Mitigation Standard Practices Relative to Commercial Launch

Continue to follow the United States Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, consistent with mission requirements and cost effectiveness, in the procurement and operation of spacecraft, launch services, and the conduct of tests and experiments in space.

Guidance

FAA Rulemaking process is a deliberative process that often takes years. Yet it allows public and industry to participate.

Policy cannot be directly levied on commercial operators except through rulemaking process.

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• Identify Need for

Rulemaking

•Legislation•Petition•Court Decision•New Technology

• Develop proposed

rule

• Initiate rulemaking

•Draft•Cost/benefit analysis

•Council review

•Council approval

• Coordinate proposed

rule

•DOT Review•OMB Review•Publish in Federal Register

•Start of public comment period

• Public Comment

Period

•Possible Public Meeting

• Develop final rule

•End of public comment period

•Analyze and address comments

•DOT review•OMB review•Publish Final Rule in Federal Registry

Rulemaking Process

450 Days 90 Days 310 Days

1.25 Years1.5 Years

2 - 3 Years

What’s it take to change the rules?

Rulemaking Considerations and Realities • Additional scrutiny for rulemakings that are determined to be significant: an annual impact on the economy

of $100 million or more• Legal agreement and concurrence • Complete cost-benefit analysis demonstrating that the benefits justify the cost• OMB Review• Industry reaction and comments• Current US Government anti-regulatory environment – minimization of rules and aversion to additional rules

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Questions