Ten Top Things to Know About Small Satellites and Space Debris

Abstract

Because of the substantial advantages that small satellites can offer to educational programs on limited budgets, to those deploying global constellations in low Earth orbit, and to those who can meet specific space-related tasks with miniaturized payloads, it seems likely that there will continue to be an exponential increase in launch of small satellites and consequently, in the number of associated debris in orbit. In order to reduce space debris, national regulatory and technical solutions would need to be developed and implemented. In light of the fear of a future avalanche of space debris that can cascade out of control, there are many steps that are being taken to mitigate space debris and a number of these steps prescribe better ways to proceed with small satellite missions and experiments.