Cost and benefit analysis of space debris mitigation measures

The increasing number of orbital debris objects is a risk for satellites. To reduce the risks for future space missions several mitigation strategies have been developed during the last years. In this paper the long-term cost development of space debris mitigation measures is analyzed. Different mitigation scenarios are defined and compared. Cost models are derived for mitigation measures and for the loss of amortization in the case of hypervelocity impacts on operating satellites. Long-term simulations of the space debris environment based on a conservative orbital traffic model have been made for a 50 years time interval beginning in 2001. The simulations consider different mitigation scenarios. The output data have been combined with the cost models. The mitigation scenarios were compared, and a cost-benefit analysis has been performed. The result of the investigation is, that the most effective mitigation measures are passivation (suppression of fragmentation events) and slag prevention. (C) 2003 International Astronautical Federation. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.