Is DoD Dropping the Ball on Space Debris?

摘要

The United States traditionally has been a leader in the effort to combat space pollution, universally recognized as a danger to the safe use of space. Even tiny pieces of debris such as paint flecks or bolts can damage or destroy a satellite or spacecraft, due to the tremendously high speeds of orbital objects (some 10 kilometers per second in low Earth orbit). Everyone agrees there is already too much orbital debris, particularly in the most heavily used orbits. Both NASA and the Department of Defense have well-crafted policies requiring debris mitigation efforts for their missions. NASA also has been a leader in the international effort to develop globally observed mitigation practices. Even the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency (MDA), which has by and large been exempt from normal weapon development and acquisition regulations, has up until now been a good soldier in the battle against space junk, designing intercept tests to ensure against debris creation.