Id: 265

Type: Conference paper

Published: 02/16/2016

Event: AAS 2016 Space Flight Mechanics conference

Authors:

Abstract:

A method is presented for generating Resident Space Object (RSO) catalogs which include RSOs smaller than those currently included in today’s RSO cata-logs. Such catalogs can be very useful in assessing anticipated sensor performance, throughput and coverage for new sensor concepts, locations and phenomenologies than those in use today. The method is general and supports RSO catalog creation down to any specified minimum or maximum fragment size. As an example, the method is invoked to generate both LEO-crossing and GEO-crossing RSO catalogs containing the representative population for all RSOs larger than 2 cm in size. The method’s only assumptions are that at any altitude of interest, (1) the 2-dimensional PDF distribution at that same altitude of semi-major axis versus eccentricity derived from today’s public catalog is representative of such distributions for smaller object sizes; and (2) the proportion of pro-grade-to-retrograde orbits is also representative.

Oltrogge, D.L. and Braun, V., “Using Space Population Models to Generate Representative Space Object Catalogs,” AAS 2016 Space Flight Mechanics conference, AAS 16-233, Napa CA, 16 Feb 2016, accessible at https://comspoc.com/Resources/Content/Private/C-20220424T091255/Paper/20160216_Using_Space_Pop_Models_to_Generate_RSO_Catalogs_Oltrogge_Braun_AAS_FINAL.pdf.