The collision probability of geostationary satellites
Abstract
The magnitudes of present and future collision risks of geostationary satellites due to deactivated spacecraft and debris in the narrow orbital ring are derived from a model in which two classes of spacecraft are considered: (1) operational stationkeeping satellites described by a suitable probability distribution within the geostationary ring; (2) uncontrolled objects moving in accordance with natural perturbations. It is argued that the risk of collision will become unacceptably high when such large space structures as solar power satellites become operational, and it is recommended that all satellites should be raised to a safe orbit well above the geostationary at the end of their operational lifetimes. The cost of such a scheme in terms of needed fuel is not larger than that required by one month of north-south stationkeeping.
- Publication:
-
Rome International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981rome.iafcR....V
- Keywords:
-
- Collision Avoidance;
- Collision Parameters;
- Geosynchronous Orbits;
- Probability Distribution Functions;
- Synchronous Satellites;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Perturbation Theory;
- Risk;
- Solar Radiation;
- Astrodynamics