Tools for Informed Policymaking in Space Sustainability: Modeling Debris Mitigation Strategies and Developing an Orbital Capacity Framework
Name
harrris-mharris4-sm-tpp-aeroastro-2026-thesis.pdf
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8.91 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
075e691a43f2a2fd9a4e26a4a4afc6db
Author(s)
Harris, Maya F.
Advisor(s)
Linares, Richard
Date Issued
February 2026
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Orbital congestion and orbital debris are two of the most pressing problems in the aerospace industry today. While policy (regulations, fines, guidelines, etc.) can be a useful tool for managing these challenges, space policy has historically been difficult to create, implement, and enforce for a number of reasons. This work discusses the creation and implementation of two tools that can help overcome these challenges and support informed policymaking in space sustainability. One tool is an expanded version of the MIT Orbital Capacity Assessment Tool Source-Sink Evolutionary Model (MOCAT-SSEM). This is a techno-economic model that allows users to test different policy interventions and observe their impacts on the social, economic, and physical environment. This work demonstrates how MOCAT-SSEM can be used to answer questions about when or how to implement different policies. The second tool is a framework for defining the capacity of an orbital region based on the feasibility of safely operating a satellite there. This work demonstrates how today's satellite population can be analyzed in order to determine which regions have exceeded capacity and are no longer operating at a sustainable level. This capacity definition and framework help provide an upper limit on sustainable satellite activity that policymakers can regulate within. Together, these tools can support the creation of informed and timely policy for space sustainability.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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