Madeline Lenkart, a master's student in the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering, and Harold T. Amrine Distinguished Professor Stephan Biller have been published in Frontiers in Space Technologies for their work reframing orbital space debris as a potential material resource for in-space manufacturing.
Their article, "Space Debris Material Sourcing for In-Space Manufacturing: A Quantitative Evaluation Framework", proposes a quantitative model that evaluates the value of low Earth orbit (LEO) debris across three dimensions; material market value, transportation cost reduction, and risk reduction from debris removal. Using scenario-based projections extending to 2050, the framework finds that avoided transportation costs are the dominant value driver, while material recovery offers meaningful secondary benefits.
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