scope:

Purpose

This document serves as a companion to NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8715.6 and provides specific requirements and methods to comply with the NASA requirements for limiting orbital debris generation. NASA-Standard (NASA-STD) 8719.14 updates NASA Safety Standard (NSS) 1740.14, which went into effect in August 1995. This NASA-STD helps ensure that spacecraft and launch vehicles meet acceptable standards for limiting orbital debris generation.

Note: Limited use of NSS 1740.14 for programs in effect as of approval of this NASASTD is per the requirements in NPR 8715.6 paragraph P.2.

This NASA-STD is primarily designed to limit the creation of new orbital debris and, therefore, to limit the risk to other current and future space missions. The methodologies described herein can be used by programs and projects to evaluate and to improve their own mission reliability and success with respect to the orbital debris and meteoroid environment. The assessments described in this NASA-STD are required per NPR 8715.6 and are reviewed for completeness as a part of the flight approval processes.

This document, along with the associated Debris Assessment Software (DAS) [version 2.0 or higher] provided by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (NASA ODPO) located at Johnson Space Center (JSC), shall be used by the program or project manager as the primary reference in conducting orbital debris assessments (Requirement 56244).

This NASA-STD establishes requirements for (1) limiting the generation of orbital debris, (2) assessing the risk of collision with existing space debris, (3) assessing the potential of space structures to impact the surface of the Earth, and (4) assessing and limiting the risk associated with the end of mission (EOM) of a space object. In addition to requirements in Section 4 and methods for assessment, this NASA-STD provides the format for the required debris assessment and reports which must be submitted to the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance as required in NPR 8715.6.

Note: NASA-HDBK 8719.14 serves as a reference document to assist orbital debris practioners and program/project management in understanding orbital debris. Topics in NASA-HDBK 8719.14 include the OD environment, measurements, modeling, shielding, mitigation, and reentry. It is strongly encouraged that the NASA-HDBK be used with the implementation of NPR 8715.6 and NASA-STD 8719.14.

This document is primarily intended for use in assessing orbital debris that is in Earth orbit. For spacecraft and launch vehicles traveling beyond Earth orbit, the beginning of Sections 4.3-4.8 state how the requirements in this NASA-STD are applicable to missions traveling beyond Earth orbit.

Applicability

a. This NASA-STD is applicable to all objects launched into space in which NASA has lead involvement and control or has partial involvement with control over design or operations via U.S. internal or international partnership agreements, including the launch vehicle. This document has no automatic exclusions for any program or project due to limited funding, responsibility, or involvement of NASA in the program or project. NASA involvement includes design, manufacture, or funding of instruments, spacecraft bus, spacecraft systems, the launch vehicle, and launch processing. The use of this NASA-STD is only required for those portions of a space mission under NASA control. This NASA-STD defines being in 'space' as exceeding 100 km (~62 mi) in altitude and achieving or exceeding Earth orbital velocity.

b. This NASA-STD has been designed to be cited in contract, program, and other Agency documents as a technical requirement or as a reference for guidance.

c. Any decision to waive or vary from the requirements in this NASA-STD requires the concurrence of the Chief, Safety and Mission Assurance, Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (Chief/OSMA).

d. Within this NASA-STD, the word "shall" indicates a mandatory requirement, the word "should" indicates that a statement is strongly recommended for implementation but not required, and the word "may" indicates an optional implementation.

e. NPR 7120.5 and NPR 8715.6 require the use of this document for development of orbital debris assessments (ODA), ODA Reports (ODAR), and EOM Plans (EOMP).