Early detection of collisional cascading

Andrew E. Potter

doi:10.1117/12.156552

15 September 1993 Early detection of collisional cascading

Andrew E. Potter

Proceedings Volume 1951, Space Debris Detection and Mitigation; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156552
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Theoretical analyses of the orbital debris environment have shown that collisions could eventually become the dominant source of orbital debris. Debris will be added to the environment more rapidly by collisions than it can be removed by atmospheric drag. The models suggest that this process has already begun in some altitude regimes, specifically in the region from about 900 to 1000 km. It is important to verify these predictions by measurement in order to provide solid justification for early preventive measures. Collisions of two large objects are predicted to be very infrequent at the present time. However, the models predict that collisions of small debris with large objects will take place at an appreciable rate. One collision of an 0.5 cm object with a large object is expected each year. The collision rate increases with decreasing size, such that 80 collisions of 1 mm objects with a large object are expected each year. These collisions will not destroy the large object, but will generate a shower of microdebris. The particles generated by such collisions are mostly thrown forward, and either escape, or enter exceptionally long-lived elliptical orbits. It is suggested that an orbital experiment be flown for the specific purpose of detecting the predicted collisions by measuring the micro-debris fluxes resulting from the collisions.

Citation Download Citation

Andrew E. Potter "Early detection of collisional cascading", Proc. SPIE 1951, Space Debris Detection and Mitigation, (15 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156552

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