Considering the collision probability of Active Debris Removal missions
Considering the collision probability of Active Debris Removal missions
Active Debris Removal (ADR) methods are being developed due to a growing concern about the congestion on-orbit and sustainability of spaceflight. This study examined the probability of an on-orbit collision between an ADR target, whilst being de-orbited, and all the objects in the public catalogue published by the US Strategic Command. Such a collision could have significant effects because the target is likely to be located in a densely populated orbital regime and thus follow-on collisions could take place. Six impulsive and three low-thrust example ADR mission trajectories were screened for conjunctions. Extremely close conjunctions were found to result in as much as 99% of the total accumulated collision probability. The need to avoid those conjunctions is highlighted, which raises concerns about ADR methods that do not support collision avoidance. Shortening the removal missions, at an expense of more ?V?V and so cost, will also lower their collision probability by reducing the number of conjunctions that they will experience.
10-17
Lidtke, Aleksander
665c1a9b-a70d-4d73-bf48-4a6093d856b7
Lewis, Hugh
e9048cd8-c188-49cb-8e2a-45f6b316336a
Armellin, Roberto
61950d5c-3dcf-45f5-b391-7e8c6ffb8e6f
Urrutxua, Hodei
ec73b9d7-654f-4db7-9ff3-68ad05543cfe
February 2017
Lidtke, Aleksander
665c1a9b-a70d-4d73-bf48-4a6093d856b7
Lewis, Hugh
e9048cd8-c188-49cb-8e2a-45f6b316336a
Armellin, Roberto
61950d5c-3dcf-45f5-b391-7e8c6ffb8e6f
Urrutxua, Hodei
ec73b9d7-654f-4db7-9ff3-68ad05543cfe
Lidtke, Aleksander, Lewis, Hugh, Armellin, Roberto and Urrutxua, Hodei
(2017)
Considering the collision probability of Active Debris Removal missions.
Acta Astronautica, 131, .
(doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.11.012).
Abstract
Active Debris Removal (ADR) methods are being developed due to a growing concern about the congestion on-orbit and sustainability of spaceflight. This study examined the probability of an on-orbit collision between an ADR target, whilst being de-orbited, and all the objects in the public catalogue published by the US Strategic Command. Such a collision could have significant effects because the target is likely to be located in a densely populated orbital regime and thus follow-on collisions could take place. Six impulsive and three low-thrust example ADR mission trajectories were screened for conjunctions. Extremely close conjunctions were found to result in as much as 99% of the total accumulated collision probability. The need to avoid those conjunctions is highlighted, which raises concerns about ADR methods that do not support collision avoidance. Shortening the removal missions, at an expense of more ?V?V and so cost, will also lower their collision probability by reducing the number of conjunctions that they will experience.
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Accepted/In Press date: 6 November 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 November 2016
Published date: February 2017
Organisations:
Astronautics Group
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Local EPrints ID: 403228
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/403228
ISSN: 0094-5765
PURE UUID: ff961bd9-afe5-4aef-b1ed-6c0a2f26ac62
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Date deposited: 24 Nov 2016 09:11
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:55
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