Risk Assessment of Space Debris Hazards for Global Positioning Spacecraft,

Abstract

An important concern of USSPACECOM has been developing a policy to reduce orbital debris, including ensuring proper spacecraft end-of-life disposal to minimize the number of spacecraft left on mission orbit beyond their useful lifetimes. This paper provides insight to the pertinent issues related to space debris and spacecraft disposal in addition to a detailed analysis of debris hazards for the Global Positioning System (GPS) family of spacecraft as outlined by M. E. Sorge. Results of the analysis show that inactive GPS satellites pose the most significant hazard to the GPS constellation of all space debris of large size, thus reaffirming recent U.S. space policy mandating deorbiting for all GPS satellites deemed non-mission capable. Additional analysis is recommended to explore collision probabilities for medium sized debris, since this category is also capable of disabling GPS satellites.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 26, 1998
Accession Number
ADA356208

Entities

People

  • David M. Ashley

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Earth Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Military Personnel
  • Perigees
  • Satellite Buses
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Space Debris
  • Space Objects
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris