Commercial launch providers will increasingly be required to address concerns regarding the accumulation of potentially dangerous debris in Low Earth Orbit, whether due to explicit regulatory requirements or customer demand. This will require changes in the design and operation of commercial launch vehicles, with potentially significant cost impacts. A recent study at the request of the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation has examined this issue, with a particular emphasis on active and passive techniques for safely disposing of spent upper stages with minimal cost and performance impact. No single optimal technique was found, but a number of relatively low-impact solutions were found to collectively envelope most commercial vehicles and markets. Of particular interest was the fact that designing for controlled deorbit may incidentally enhance launch vehicle operational flexibility and thus enable new missions or significant cost reductions for existing missions.
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