A Characterization of the Birdstrike Risk to the Space Shuttle Orbiter at Its Primary Landing Sites
Abstract
A risk assessment of the birdstrike hazards to the Space Shuttle Orbiter was conducted to support a National Aeronautics and Space Administration study on the windshield design. The birdstrike risks were evaluated for three Shuttle landing sites: Kennedy Space Center, FL; Edwards AFB, CA; and, Vandenberg AFB, CA. The US Air Force Bird Avoidance Model (BAM) was used to determine the relative level of birdstrike risk along the Shuttle approach routes. In this application, the proportionate risk from discrete size classes of birds was multiplied by the BAM estimates to examine the relative risk from different weights of birds. The bird population data was collected from the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge which is adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center landing site. The cumulative distribution frequency of bird weights approximated a Weibull distribution. This analysis showed that the Fall and early Winter is the worst time to attempt a landing at KSC and that at least one out of every 100 Shuttle approaches might involve a 3-pound bird. The chance of encountering a 4-pound bird, probably raptor, is greatest in the Summer at KSC. Discrete bird population data was unavailable for the California sites so a simple comparison was made between the sites using the BAM estimates. The birdstrike risk is highest at KSC and Edwards AFB especially at night during the Fall migratory period. Raptors comprise the highest birdstrike hazard at Vandenberg AFB in the summer months. More complete bird population data from the California sites would allow a size class breakdown of the birdstrike hazards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA208816
Entities
People
- Jeffrey J. Short
Organizations
- Wright Laboratory