Space Debris

Discipline: Flight Mechanics

Abstract:
Space debris is a growing concern among satellite operators because the number of objects that have the potential to destroy a satellite now number in the hundreds of thousands. The history of space debris generation, tracking, modeling, collision risk, and atmospheric reentry is presented. Examples of debris generating events are used to illustrate the complexity of the problem and the risk to satellite operations. Deficiencies in our ability to quantify and mitigate the risk are noted. Animations of space debris orbits over the last 65 years visually illustrate the rapidly increasing density of the space debris environment.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Roger C. Thompson is a senior engineering specialist for The Aerospace Corporation’s Space Safety and Situational Awareness Department and a member of the NESC Flight Mechanics TDT. During his 28-year career at Aerospace, he has provided support for space situational awareness, collision avoidance, on-orbit breakup analysis and risk assessment, space debris issues, deorbit/reentry prediction, and orbital operations for many programs and space missions. He is one of the corporation’s leading analysts in collision avoidance and space traffic management and has represented Aerospace at high-level government and industry meetings where future space policy will be determined.