Protecting Satellites in Low Earth Orbit: An Overview of Hazards and Policy Solutions

Annika Thomas*, Dansil Green*, Kristen Ammons, Laman Jalil, Joe Kusters, and Kerri Cahoy

Edited by David Howarth and Sarah Radway

Editor’s Note | Aug. 31 2023

*Emails: annikat@mit.edu and dansil@mit.edu

DOI: 10.38105/spr.1b066n64w3

Highlights

Current policy does not reflect current trends in the space field, legally and economically.

Hazards to satellites arise from environmental and anthropogenic sources.

Without adequate preparation, these hazards threaten the sustainability of Low Earth Orbit.

Preventative policy can address these hazards before they become an issue as the Low Earth Orbit economy surges in the coming decade.

Article Summary

Satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment face various hazards which threaten the long-term sustainability of the space economy. This article describes the potential dangers to satellites in LEO beyond commonly referenced orbital debris and satellite collisions, including hazards that arise from the LEO environment itself and from other anthropogenic sources such as laser interference and orbital light pollution. As the LEO economy surges in the coming decade, preventative policy such as that proposed in this article could address these risks before they become an issue and ensure that the LEO environment continues to grow sustainably.

Open Access

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Annika Thomas

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Dansil Green

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Technology and Policy Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Kristen Ammons

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Laman Jalil

Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Kerri Cahoy

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA