160-Day Simulation of Space Station Debris Avoidance Operations with the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM)

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160-Day Simulation of Space Station Debris Avoidance Operations with the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM)

A. Lunde / J. L. Foster

A joint simulation was performed by the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) to obtain information concerning the current space debris population for debris avoidance operations. Simulation results, which are extrapolated within this document, are intended for use in future space station operations. The simulation, performed from September 1992 to March 1993, used the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) orbiting at a 28.5-deg orbital inclination, and substituting for a space station orbital inclinationas a target vehicle. As the simulation was carried out, USSPACECOM used the database maintained by its tracking network to search for conjunctions between the GRO and the tracked debris, and then transmitted results of the simulation to JSC for analysis. Over the entire altitude band studied, the debris flux and frequency of penetration of Space Shuttle orbiter 'alert' and 'maneuver' boxes were found to be much lower than the predictions of current models. However, if a maneuver box similar to that used for the Space Shuttle is used for a future space station, the number of maneuvers to avoid orbital debris will be prohibitive. Results of this study showed a very dynamic debris environment over the time period and altitudes covered.