FAA to complete orbital debris upper stage regulations in 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration is moving ahead with efforts to develop rules for the disposal of upper stages as another Centaur upper stage breaks apart in orbit as reported in Space News.

That incident, as well as the breakup of a Chinese Long March 6A upper stage in low Earth orbit shortly after the launch of 18 broadband satellites Aug. 6, serve as reminders of the threat upper stages pose to space sustainability.  The FAA is reviewing public comments it received on the draft regulations. “

It’s a high priority for our organization,” said Kelvin Coleman, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation, at the Commercial Developments in Low Earth Orbit symposium Sept. 6 organized by George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute and The Aerospace Corporation. “We expect to have our orbital debris rule published some time in 2025.”