NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 8715.6E Effective Date: April 18, 2024 Expiration Date: April 18, 2029

Subject: Orbital Debris Mitigation

Responsible Office: Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

Appendix A. Definitions

Launch vehicle. A vehicle used to transport a spacecraft beyond Earth’s atmosphere, either into orbit around Earth or to a destination in outer space.

Orbital debris mitigation. Design and operational measures taken to limit:

• The release of orbital debris as part of normal spaceflight operations by spacecraft and launch vehicles.
• The potential for orbital debris generated by collisions or accidental explosions during operations and following decommissioning and disposal.
• The number of expended or decommissioned space objects remaining in orbit and their duration in orbit.
• The potential for human casualty from objects reentering Earth’s atmosphere.

Spacecraft. A vehicle that is designed for travel or operation outside the earth’s atmosphere. When present, any science or engineering hardware carried as payload are considered part of the spacecraft.

Spaceflight system. A spacecraft, launch vehicle, or element thereof.

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