WILL SPACE RUN OUT OF SPACE - THE ORBITAL DEBRIS PROBLEM AND ITS MITIGATION

An appraisal of current and future risks from space debris is presente d with the aid of calculations carried out by the MASTER model. The ef ficacy of various technical options - such as fuel venting, de-orbitin g and use of a graveyard orbit: - for counteracting the problem is dis cussed. The article then focuses on governmental and international coo perative measures and looks at the recent work done by subcommittees o f the UN COPUOS. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.