Modeling the High Area-to-Mass Ratio Debris in GEO
- Paper number
IAC-06-B6.2.01
- Author
Mr. Michael Oswald, Institute of Aerospace Systems, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Sven Flegel, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Sebastian Stabroth, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Carsten Wiedemann, Institute of Aerospace Systems, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Heiner Klinkrad, European Space Agency/ESOC, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Peter Voersmann, Institute of Aerospace Systems, Germany
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Recent observations performed using the ESA Space Debris Telescope (ESA-SDT) in Tenerife, Spain have revealed a new type of orbital debris which is characterized by large area-to-mass ratios. A possible source for this orbital debris is Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) which consists of individual films with area-to-mass ratios of up to 90 m 2/ kg. The eccentricity of such objects released in GEO would be highly variable. Besides on-orbit explosions, material degradation on upper stages and satellites is a possible mechanism for the release of these objects. In the past, releases of MLI have been observed for active satellites like the Hubble Space Telescope, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, and the Solar Heliospheric Observatory. Two models are being implemented, one describing the delamination case, and one describing the explosion case. The latter is basically an extension of the existing breakup model used in MASTER-2005. The parameters to be used for the models are derived from a detailed analysis of the design of candiate spacecraft. Observation data gathered by ESA-SDT and the Michigan Orbital DEbris Survey Telescope (MODEST) will be used to validate the chosen approaches. After an implementation of the model and a simulation that takes into account the orbit distribution and evolution of candidate spacecraft, a new debris population can be simulated. This is validated against the actual observations by using the debris model validation tool PROOF-2005. The software was developed by the Institute of Aerospace Systems at the Technische Universitaet Braunschweig under ESA contract. Based on the new population generated above, PROOF-2005 can simulate what objects could be detected during the observation campaign. If the result of the simulation is then compared with the actual observation data, an iterative adjustment of the model parameters can be done in order to achieve a good representation of the observations by the model. The outcome of the model validation will show if the chosen modelling approaches are feasible for the explanation of this new debris source.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B6.2.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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