Orbital Debris from Upper-Stage Breakup

Over the past 25 years, the mass of man-made objects from upper-stage breakups has grown to the point that it now dictates the design environment for future low-Earth-orbit operations. The hazards presented by a vast range of particle sizes, from virtual dust to the largest known orbital debris fragments, have not been fully quantified, but the field struggles with that task now. This book provides an overview of the problem, discusses practical strategies for mitigation of debris hazards, and considers strategies for prevention of future breakups.