Macroscopic Accretion: A Logistical Framework for Transforming Orbital Debris into High-Mass Infrastructure

VLASIS BECHRAKIS

2026.79.0205

DOI https://doi.org/10.59332/jbis-079-06-0205

A primary constraint on permanent orbital habitation appears to be the high cost of launching parasitic shielding mass. Current flight-qualified pressure vessels rely on thin-walled structures offering negligible Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) protection. A logistical framework, “Macroscopic Accretion”, is proposed for repurposing whole-object derelict spacecraftas passive shielding elements to overcome Low Earth Orbit (LEO) launch-mass limitations. Rather than relying on material science to optimise lightweight shields, this architecture utilises the availability of orbital debris to achieve high areal densities (>20 g/cm2) capable of pushing habitats into the “Thick Shield” regime. Engineering boundary conditions are outlined, specifically addressing the mass-balancing requirements to prevent Control Moment Gyro (CMG) saturation and a stand-off integration strategy to decouple shock transmissibility. An economic dual-value proposition is evaluated, where a single mission generates revenue via active debris removal while offsetting habitat construction capital expenditure. Finally, a state- sponsored indemnification framework is proposed to address critical liability requirements, defining the operational shifts necessary to transition from launch-constrained structures to accretion-based infrastructure.

Keywords: Orbital Debris, Radiation Shielding, In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU), Hypervelocity Impact, Active Debris Removal