Jan Stupl, Nicolas Faber, Cyrus Foster, SGT Inc. (NASA Ames Research Center), Fan Yang Yang, (Universities Space Research Association / NASA Ames Research Center), Creon Levit, (NASA Ames Research Center)
Keywords: orbital debris, space debris
Abstract:
The potential to perturb debris orbits using photon pressure from ground-based lasers has been confirmed by independent research teams. Useful applications of this scheme are protecting space assets from impacts with debris and stabilizing the orbital debris environment, both relying on collision avoidance rather than de-orbiting debris. This paper presents the results of a new assessment method to analyze the efficiency of the concept. Earlier research concluded that one ground based system consisting of a 10 kW class laser, directed by a 1.5 m telescope with adaptive optics, can avoid a significant fraction of debris-debris collisions in low Earth orbit. That research used in-track displacement to measure efficiency and restricted itself to an analysis of a limited number of objects. As orbit prediction error is dependent on debris object properties, a static displacement threshold should be complemented with another measure to assess the efficiency of the scheme. In this paper we present the results of an approach using probability of collision. Using a least-squares fitting method, we improve the quality of the original TLE catalogue in terms of state and co-state accuracy. We then calculate collision probabilities for all the objects in the catalogue. The conjunctions with the highest risk of collision are then engaged by a simulated network of laser ground stations. After those engagements, the perturbed orbits are used to re-assess the collision probability in a 24h window around the original conjunction. We then use different criteria to evaluate the utility of the laser based collision avoidance scheme and assess the number of base-line ground stations needed to mitigate a significant number of high probability conjunctions. Finally, we also give an account how a laser ground station can be used for both orbit deflection and debris tracking.
Date of Conference: September 10-13, 2013
Track: Orbital Debris