Submitting Campus

Worldwide

Student Status

Graduate

Class

Graduate Student Works

Advisor Name

Dr. Mike Kaplan

Abstract/Description

In an era marked by remarkable advancements in space exploration and research, the advent of satellite technology has contributed accordingly to the lives of people here on Earth. Through applications that tie into broadband connectivity, weather forecasting, disaster management, etc., the occupancy in orbital domains like Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) only continues to grow. However, the presence of orbital debris emerges as a significant concern, posing threats to both operational satellites and future space missions. Resulting as a consequence due to decades of activities since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, as more countries ventured into space so did the number of spacecraft, each leaving behind remnants of their missions (The Aerospace Corporation, 2022). Coupled with major events such as China’s Anti-Satellite Test in 2007 and Iridium-Cosmos’ Collision in 2009 producing thousands of fragments from destroyed space assets, this furthered the overall accumulation of space debris (Hadley, 2023; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2009). As it stands now, more than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris traveling approximately 15,700 mph have been recorded in LEO (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2021). Varying in size and carrying the potential to deal substantial damage, orbital debris mitigation measures are of paramount importance to ensure the sustainability for continued space operations long-term.

Document Type

Article

Publication/Presentation Date

10-24-2023

Publication Title

Scholarly Commons

Publisher

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

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