Hazard Analysis for the Breakup of Satellites 16937 and 16938

Abstract

Satellites 16937 and 16938 were placed in orbit on September 5, 1986. Prior to the launch of these two satellites, the possibility was foreseen that a collision between them might occur. Consequently, the hazards to other spacecraft that might result from the orbital debris produced by such an event were assessed by modeling. Because so little is known about the dynamics of collisions in space, three different collision scenarios were postulated and analyzed. These scenarios differed in the amount of momentum interchange between the colliding bodies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 27, 1987
Accession Number
ADA352037

Entities

People

  • D. L. Talent
  • P. D. Anz-meador
  • R. H. Rast

Organizations

  • Lockheed Martin

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Digital Data
  • Energy Transfer
  • Environment
  • Interferometers
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Optical Detectors
  • Phased Array Radar
  • Radar
  • Space Debris
  • Space Objects
  • Space Surveillance
  • Spacecraft

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris