NASA Procedures and Guidelines
This Document is Obsolete and Is No Longer Used. Check the NODIS Library to access the current version: http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov
NPR 8715.6A Eff. Date: May 14, 2009 Cancellation Date: February 24, 2017	NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris (w/ Change 1 - 5/14/09)
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Appendix A. Terms and Definitions

Breakup - an explosion or disassembly of the spacecraft or launch vehicle which generates orbital debris.

Conjunction Assessment - an analysis done to predict the closest point of approach of two space objects based on their orbital parameters.

End-of-Mission - the time of completion of all mission activities, experimental operations, and stand-by status, immediately preceding passivation and disposal of the spacecraft or launch vehicle stage.

Orbital debris - any object placed in space by humans that remains in orbit and no longer serves any useful function. Objects range from spacecraft to spent launch vehicle stages to components and also include materials, trash, refuse, fragments, and other objects which are overtly or inadvertently cast off or generated.

Passivation - the process of removing all forms of stored energy from spacecraft, launch vehicle stages, and propulsion units. Passivation includes, but is not limited to, the depletion of all residual propellants, pressurants, electrical storage devices, and forms of kinetic energy to a level where the remaining internal stored energy is insufficient to cause breakup/disassembly. Some sealed batteries and heat pipes need not be depressurized if their potential for explosion is extremely low.

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