The Biden administration’s recently announced implementation plan to deal with orbital debris (space junk) is another toothless wonder. It is time for Congress to step in and legislate action on orbital debris rather than accept this policy approach of “paralysis by analysis”.
The White House’s new “National Orbital Debris Implementation Plan” offers a 14-page PowerPoint-like bullet point, and while the big picture goals are satisfying, the specifics of an Active Debris Removal (ADR) technology demonstration mission are: No direction is indicated.
Instead of a call to action with instructions to design and launch a long-awaited ADR technology demonstration mission within the next decade (the obvious next step in addressing space junk), this latest management plan instead dives deep into safe and often obscure bureaucratic waters. “Assessment, Research, Analysis”
In true Washington policy style, the White House plan proposes more studies, studies, “best practices, guidelines, and websites.” As our national and commercial assets in orbit are at risk of being destroyed by space debris, space users should seek better risk assessments, research data, or a new website to monitor space debris. I couldn’t be more relieved to know that there might be.
The obvious action missing from this “plan” is that the Biden administration directed an ADR mission to be built and launched during the remainder of his term. Such a mission is entirely feasible if U.S. industry and academia lead a technology demonstration in partnership with the government.
With this administration’s publication on space policy issues of urgent importance, it’s time for Congress to step in and do the right thing. Congress should direct NASA to partner with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) on ADR technology demonstration missions starting by 2025.
In addition to proving its ability to help protect our own in-orbit assets, the ADR technology demonstration mission to publicly capture and remove large amounts of space junk from orbit will help the United States reach this growing high frontier. Show the world that you recognize the seriousness of the threat of .
ADR missions will also energize new lines of business for innovative American aerospace companies, large and small. Instead of waiting another 10 years for “research, evaluation, analysis,” U.S. companies see mission success, feel the opportunity, and are happy to step up to make space cleaner, safer, and better serve the planet. Make a profit on top.
David Steitz most recently served as NASA’s Associate Deputy Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy and NASA’s Deputy Chief Engineer. Steitz retired from NASA in his May, ending his 32-year career at NASA headquarters in Washington.
