Invited Paper: Modelling of the GEO Debris Environment Based on ESA-SDT Observations
- Paper number
IAC-07-A6.2.01
- Author
Mr. Michael Oswald, Institute of Aerospace Systems, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Sebastian Stabroth, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Carsten Wiedemann, Institute of Aerospace Systems, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Thomas Schildknecht, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland
- Coauthor
Dr. Heiner Klinkrad, European Space Agency/ESOC, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Peter Voersmann, Institute of Aerospace Systems, Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The ESA Space Debris Telescope (SDT)in Tenerife is providing measurement data of the GEO debris environment that are used for the validation of debris environment models like MASTER-2005. In this paper, the validation concept for the GEO debris environment based on ESA-SDT observations will be shown. At the time MASTER-2005 was developed only two fragmentation events were confirmed. However, the observation data - even for a few years - showed more cloud structures in the GEO debris environment. In order to align the model with the observation data, several iterations using the MASTER population generation tool and the validation software PROOF were performed, resulting in eight artificially introduced fragmentation events. Their parameters were chosen in a manner to closely resemble the parameter distributions observed by ESA-SDT. After the conclusion of the MASTER-2005 project, new insight into the GEO debris environment could be gained using an in-depth analysis of historic anomalous events in the geostationary ring based on TLE data. Some of the anomalies have not produced any debris observable by ESA-SDT while the signatures of other - previously unknown - events were clearly identifiable in the ESA-SDT data.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A6.2.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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