APPLICABILITY. a. This NPD is applicable to the following:

(1) All NASA space programs/projects at NASA Headquarters or NASA Centers that design, build, operate, or procure hardware that may generate or become OD in Earth's orbit, or become OD by reentering the Earth's atmosphere after end of mission. (It is also applicable to NASA contractors, grantees, cooperative, or other agreement entities to the extent provided in the governing agreement.)

(2) NASA instruments that fly on non-NASA spacecraft (to the extent that the instruments must be designed to minimize contributions to OD generation).

b. OD is defined as follows:

(1) Spacecraft or payloads that can no longer perform their mission.

(2) Rocket bodies, payload adapters, and other hardware (e.g., bolt fragments, lens covers, spin weights) left in orbit as a result of normal launch and operational activities.

(3) Fragmentation products from failures or collisions. Gases and short-lived liquids in free state are not considered OD.

c. For programs that were beyond Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in their development cycle prior to April 5, 1993, this NPD applies to the extent that the assessment is limited to documenting, and executing if feasible, mission planning and operational procedures that minimize OD generation, and to documenting debris mitigation options at end of mission.