Optimization of Space Debris Collision Avoidance Maneuver

Optimization of Space Debris Collision Avoidance Maneuver
Author: Priyatharsan Rajasekar
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

"The rising population of space debris poses a collision hazard to active satellites functioning in their orbits around the Earth. Often these satellites are required to perform orbital maneuvers to avoid high-energy collision with space debris. In addition to maintaining a safe proximity from the approaching debris during the time of closest approach, it is crucial to ensure that the satellite must then be brought back to its nominal orbit. This requires execution of additional orbital maneuvers and optimizing these maneuvers is important so that the impact on the mission life is minimal. Therefore, a framework of minimum-fuel orbital maneuvers in the context of finding an optimal trajectory considering both collision avoidance and orbit re-entry is desired. Most of the previous research work was focused only on optimization of orbital maneuver for collision avoidance. In this study, trajectory optimization for both maneuver processes is attempted using an evolutionary algorithm for which two methods: three-impulse method and two-impulse method, are developed and investigated. The three-impulse method is established as a two-stage maneuver process. In the first maneuver stage, a small impulse is applied to alter the course of the satellite in order to avoid the predicted collision. The second stage involves a bi-impulse maneuver that will take the satellite back to its nominal orbit after bypassing the obstacle. This bi-impulsive maneuver is estimated using the solutions of the well-known Lambert's problem. The design of the two-impulse method, on the other hand, is more straightforward which involves determining the optimal transfer orbit by just solving the Lambert's problem while the constraints are satisfied to an acceptable level. The proposed methods are tested for a high-risk collision predicted in a Low Earth Orbit while the test involves accurate numerical propagation taking into account the Earth zonal harmonics and the attraction from other bodies (Sun and Moon). The numerical simulations demonstrate that the conjunction could be mitigated satisfying the minimum-fuel objective and the satellite-safety constraints." --

Trajectory Optimization for Spacecraft Collision Avoidance

Trajectory Optimization for Spacecraft Collision Avoidance
Author: Air Force Institute of Technology
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2014-08-21
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9781500903138

The last several decades have resulted in an unfortunate byproduct of space exploration and development: orbital debris. Satellites in Low Earth Orbit have been required to make an ever increasing number of course corrections in order to avoid collisions. Despite efforts to the contrary, collisions continue to occur, each time creating additional debris and increasing the requirement for the remaining satellites to maneuver. Every required maneuver decreases a satellite's service life. The purpose of this study is to develop a minimum thrust profile to maneuver an orbiting satellite out of its projected error ellipse before a collision occurs. For comparison, both the impulsive and continuous thrust cases were considered as well as in-plane versus out-of plane maneuvering. This study made use of the Radau Pseudospectral Method to develop this minimum thrust profile. This method was run in MATLAB(r) using General Pseudospectral Optimal Control Software (GPOPS-II). Once the optimal solution was obtained, Systems Tool Kit(r) was used to simulate the resulting calculated trajectories and confirm avoidance of the error ellipse.

Safety Design for Space Operations

Safety Design for Space Operations
Author: Tommaso Sgobba
Publisher: Elsevier Inc. Chapters
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2013-03-24
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128054891

This chapter deals with some key topics of orbital safety. It starts with an overview of the issue of space traffic control and space situational awareness, and then proceeds to address conjunction analyses and collision avoidance maneuvers (CAM), including for the International Space Station. Another kind of collision risk discussed is the jettison of discarded hardware. The chapter then covers rendezvous and docking/berthing operations. Collision safety risks, their causes and consequences, and the measures for protection are discussed in detail. The chapter also covers the issues of space vehicles charging and contamination hazards, including the shock hazard for astronauts involved in extravehicular activities. Finally, the chapter presents end-of life mitigation measures and techniques for space debris removal, such as space tugs, drag devices and electrodynamic propulsion.

Space Program

Space Program
Author: United States. General Accounting Office
Publisher:
Total Pages: 40
Release: 1990
Genre: Space debris
ISBN:

Numerical And Analytical Solutions To Rapid Collision Avoidance Maneuvers Constrained By Mission Performance Requirements

Numerical And Analytical Solutions To Rapid Collision Avoidance Maneuvers Constrained By Mission Performance Requirements
Author: Jason Reiter
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

Collision avoidance maneuvers to prevent orbital collisions between two catalogued objects are typically planned multiple days in advance. If the warning time is decreased to less than half-an-orbit in advance, the problem becomes more complex. Typically, the maneuver (assumed to be impulsive) would be placed at perigee or apogee and oriented in the direction that allows for a fuel-optimal maneuver to be performed well before the predicted collision. Instead, for rapid collision avoidance scenarios, finite burn propagation was applied to determine the thrust duration and direction required to reach a desired minimum collision probability. Determining the thrust time and direction for a wide range of orbits and spacecraft properties results in a semi-analytical solution to the collision avoidance problem anywhere in Low-Earth Orbit. The speed at which this method can be applied makes it valuable when minimal time is available to perform such a maneuver. For many spacecraft missions, even the slightest change in the orbit of the spacecraft may significantly affect its ability to perform to its required specifications. With the high volume of debris in orbit, debris-creating events could occur with no advanced notice, making rapid collision avoidance scenarios a real possibility. Care must be taken to ensure that any potential collision is avoided while minimizing the effect of the maneuver on the spacecraft's mission performance. Assuming perfect knowledge of the states of all objects and that the possible collisions occur at high relative velocities, the required thrusting time to achieve a desired collision probability is found. Varying the desired collision probability, the resulting changes in the required thrust duration time (and, thus, fuel use) can be observed, providing options for trading the fuel use and likelihood of a collision. Additionally, both of these variables contribute directly to the ability of the spacecraft to perform to the desired mission specifications. As the collision probability threshold and required burn time increase, the mission performance decreases. The level of robustness necessary in the mission specifications can be used to limit the desired collision probability threshold. This is accomplished by determining the time and fuel required to perform the collision avoidance maneuver to the desired probability level and analyzing the effect of the time spent away from the mission orbit and the quantity of fuel required to perform the maneuver on the mission performance. It was found that, for notification times less than around 20 minutes, it is best to decrease the collision probability as much as the available fuel will allow without regard for the time duration of the maneuver. As the notification time increases past 20 minutes, more emphasis can be placed on the time required to perform the entire maneuver and it was found that simultaneously minimizing the maneuver time and collision probability outweighed the slight extra fuel required for such a maneuver. Such analysis would prove significant in real-time spacecraft operations when determining an optimal collision probability threshold (typically a subjective variable) for rapid collision avoidance scenarios.

Space Debris

Space Debris
Author: Heiner Klinkrad
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2006-09-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3540376747

The future evolution of the debris environment will be forecast on the basis of traffic models and possible hazard mitigation practices. The text shows how large trackable objects will have re-entry pinpointed and predictions made on related risk assessment for possible ground impact. Models will also be described for meteoroids which are also a prevailing risk.

Spacecraft Collision Avoidance Technology

Spacecraft Collision Avoidance Technology
Author: Zhang Rongzhi
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2020-03-18
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128180110

Spacecraft Collision Avoidance Technology presents the theory and practice of space collision avoidance. The title gives models of time and space environment, their impact on high-precision orbit prediction, considers optimal orbit determination methods and models in different warning stages, and establishes basic models for warning and avoidance. Chapters present an outline of spacecraft collision warning strategy, elaborate on the basics of orbital calculation for collision avoidance, consider space object detection technology, detail space environment and object orbit, give a method for spacecraft collision warning orbit calculation, and finally, demonstrate a strategy for spacecraft collision warning and avoidance. Presents strategies, methods and real-world examples relating to space collision avoidance Considers time and space environment models in orbit prediction Gives optimal orbit determination methods and models for various warning stages Establishes and elaborates basic models for warning and avoidance Takes note of the current space environment for object detection and collision avoidance

Limiting Future Collision Risk to Spacecraft

Limiting Future Collision Risk to Spacecraft
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2011-11-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309219779

Derelict satellites, equipment and other debris orbiting Earth (aka space junk) have been accumulating for many decades and could damage or even possibly destroy satellites and human spacecraft if they collide. During the past 50 years, various National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) communities have contributed significantly to maturing meteoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) programs to their current state. Satellites have been redesigned to protect critical components from MMOD damage by moving critical components from exterior surfaces to deep inside a satellite's structure. Orbits are monitored and altered to minimize the risk of collision with tracked orbital debris. MMOD shielding added to the International Space Station (ISS) protects critical components and astronauts from potentially catastrophic damage that might result from smaller, untracked debris and meteoroid impacts. Limiting Future Collision Risk to Spacecraft: An Assessment of NASA's Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Program examines NASA's efforts to understand the meteoroid and orbital debris environment, identifies what NASA is and is not doing to mitigate the risks posed by this threat, and makes recommendations as to how they can improve their programs. While the report identified many positive aspects of NASA's MMOD programs and efforts including responsible use of resources, it recommends that the agency develop a formal strategic plan that provides the basis for prioritizing the allocation of funds and effort over various MMOD program needs. Other necessary steps include improvements in long-term modeling, better measurements, more regular updates of the debris environmental models, and other actions to better characterize the long-term evolution of the debris environment.

Protecting the Space Shuttle from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris

Protecting the Space Shuttle from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 70
Release: 1998-01-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309059887

The space shuttle orbiter has already been struck many times by small meteoroids and orbital debris, but it has not been damaged severely. There is a real risk, however, that a meteoroid or debris impact could one day force the crew to abort a mission or might result in loss of life or loss of the shuttle itself. Protecting the Space Shuttle from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris assesses the magnitude of the problem and suggests changes that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration can make to reduce the risk to the shuttle and its crew. December

Space Debris Peril

Space Debris Peril
Author: Matteo Madi
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2020-11-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1000245179

"This book provides up-to-date knowledge of space debris and valuable insights on how to grapple with this issue from legal, technical, economical and societal aspects. I would strongly recommend that everyone who is working on space development and utilizations and even non-specialists once read this book and think over how human being should be faced with this issue." –Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka, University of Tokyo, Japan Space Debris Peril: Pathways to Opportunities takes readers through the wide spectrum of problems created by space debris – including technical, political, legal and socio-economical aspects – and suggests ways to mitigate its negative consequences and create new opportunities. With chapter contributions from authors at world-renowned universities, private or public entities, and research institutes active in the field of space debris mitigation, space policy and law, risk and resilience, liability and insurance, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject helping the reader to grasp the whole picture of the current space debris remediation challenges. This book will be of interest to the scientific communities, policy makers, business developers, (re)insurers and international standards developers for space operations and orbital debris mitigation. Also, it should appeal to a broader audience among non-specialists in various sectors and the general public. Key features: Brings together interdisciplinary perspectives on the topic in one, cohesive book Chapter contributions from specialists in this interdisciplinary field from around the globe Up-to-date information with the latest developments