A proposed in situ debris measurement in GEO
Abstract
Unlike the low Earth o bit (LEO) region, the geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO)r debris environment is not well characterized. Since there is no natural mechanism to remove debris from GEO, where atmospheric drag is negligible, the GEO debris population will continue to grow. A good environment definition is needed for GEO satellite designers and operators to have reliable debris impact risk assessments and protection for their satellites. The current, general debris mitigation and protection measures may be applied to GEO satellites, but characterizing the GEO debris environment (flux, size distribution, orbit distribution, sources) will also allow measures tailored specifically for that environment. Ground-based GEO optical measurements in general have been limited to objects greater than about 15 cm. It is highly unlikely that any ground-based telescope can detect GEO debris smaller than 1 cm. In situ measurements are required to characterize the particle environment below the threshold of remote sensors. Firsthand knowledge of the untrackable debris population is critical to GEO environment definition. Two specific issues need to be addressed for any effective in situ measurements in GEO: detector type and potential contamination from interplanetary and interstellar dust. In this paper, we will discuss why the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) material makes an ideal GEO debris detector. We will also show that impacts from debris, interplanetary dust, and interstellar dust are very different in many ways (size, impact speed, flux, etc). Debris impacts can be easily distinguished from other impacts.
- Publication:
-
34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002cosp...34E.614O