James R. Shell, Ph.D., (Novarum Tech, LLC Colorado Springs, CO)
Keywords: Orbital debris, GEO debris, space-based sensing
Abstract:
The GEO debris environment remains ill-characterized, in particular the population of small (< 1m) debris objects. While the space object catalog only contains debris attributed to two GEO fragmentation events, many estimate that ten or more GEO fragmentation events have occurred. Further complicating the small debris estimates are wide-ranging assumptions on fragmentation event kinematics, and the extent to which the NASA breakup model applies. However, candidate efforts may enable GEO-hosted optical sensors, thus providing an opportunity for empirical examination of the small debris population. These potential missions beg the question of exactly what will be seen from such payloads. Will the exponentially increasing small debris population flood such sensors with many detection events from small objects at relatively short ranges? Or, will the angular rates of such objects at required ranges for adequate signal result in minimal small objects detected? A physics-based model is employed to estimate detection events given an optical payload with a parameterized estimate of the GEO small debris environment. It is found that only for the most aggressive small debris population estimates that small objects dominate detections. Object sizes on the order of 10 cm and larger are found to comprise the majority of detection events. Date of Conference: September 10-13, 2013
Track: Space-Based Assets