Protecting the GEO environment: policies and practices

The geosynchronous orbital regime has long been recognized as a unique spac e resource, dictating special measures to ensure its continuing use for fut ure generations. During the past 20 yr a variety of national and internatio nal policies have been developed to preserve this environment. A review of current practices involving the deployment and disposal of geosynchronous s pacecraft, associated upper stages and apogee kick motors, and geosynchrono us orbit transfer objects indicates both positive and negative trends. Most spacecraft operators are indeed performing end-of-mission maneuvers, but t he boost altitudes normally fall short of policy guidelines. Russia, a majo r operator in geosynchronous orbit, maneuvers only 1 in 3 spacecraft out of the region, while China has never retired a spacecraft above GEO. The viab ility of voluntary protection measures for this regime depends upon the res ponsible actions of the aerospace community as a whole. Published by Elsevi er Science Ltd.