Why This Book, For This Audience
A single accessible reference across the debris problem
The Technical Foundation
ENGINEERING & ORBITAL MECHANICS
Kessler Syndrome, orbital regimes, hypervelocity impacts, tracking and characterization, active debris removal technologies.
The Economic Reality
ECONOMICS & INCENTIVES
Cost of inaction, insurance markets, mega-constellation risk, tragedy of the commons in orbit, incentive structures for mitigation.
The Policy Landscape
INTERNATIONAL LAW & GOVERNANCE
FCC rules, Outer Space Treaty, IADC guidelines, national licensing regimes, space traffic management, and the future of orbital governance.
The Cases That Matter
CASE STUDIES & INCIDENTS
Iridium-Cosmos, Chinese ASAT test, Cosmos 1408, ISS avoidance maneuvers, Starlink financial exposure, and the incidents shaping current policy.
This Book Fits
Suggested courses across programs
- Space Systems Engineering
- Aerospace Sustainability & Space Traffic Management
- Space Situational Awareness & Astrodynamics
- International Space Law and Policy
- Space Operations & Mission Design
- Introductory Space Environment & Orbital Mechanics
- Science, Technology, and Policy Programs
Table of Contents
Full chapter list from the published edition
01 The Space Debris Crisis: An Introduction
02 The Historical Evolution of Orbital Debris
03 Orbital Regimes and Mechanics
04 The Kessler Syndrome and Cascade Risk
05 Major Fragmentation Events: Case Studies
06 Reentry Hazards and Atmospheric Effects
07 International Space Law and Policy
08 National Regulatory Frameworks
09 Tracking, SSA, and Space Traffic Management
10 Mitigation: Prevention and Design Standards
11 Active Debris Removal and In-Orbit Servicing
12 AI, Autonomy, and Emerging Technologies
13 Economics, Insurance, and Sustainability Ratings
14 Human Spaceflight and Astronaut Safety
15 Astronomy, Environment, and the Orbital Commons
16 Cislunar Futures and the Path Forward
Plus front matter (preface, acknowledgments) and back matter (appendices, glossary, index, and references) — 366 pages total.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jason P. Crutchfield
Jason P. Crutchfield has spent his life paying attention to the systems most people never see. Those questions followed him from his earliest days in the United States Army, where he served with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, through a career spanning more than three decades of senior leadership across the U.S. Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy. Jason holds an MBA from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Book Details
For ordering, cataloging, and adoption
Publisher
Immensum Press
Publication Date
June 22, 2026
Formats
Paperback, Hardcover, E-book
Page Count
366 pages
ISBN (Paperback)
979-8-9961756-1-1
ISBN (Hardcover)
979-8-9961756-0-4
ISBN (E-book)
979-8-9961756-2-8
Distribution
Paperback & Hardcover: IngramSpark (returnable, standard trade discount)
E-book: Amazon Kindle, Apple, B & N and major e-book retailers
Questions?
For direct inquiries about course adoption, bulk orders, institutional pricing, or speaking engagements, contact me at jason@spacedebrisauthor.com.