Highlights Description of an impact sensor for the detection, in real-time, of micron-sized micrometoroids and space debris. Analysis of results collected upon 5 years on the SAC-D mission on a polar orbit and comparison with models. Most the space debris detected appear to result from peculiar events, instead of a steady supply. Attempt to correlate these events with natural environment, with space activity. Implications are important for the knowledge of the space debris environment.
Abstract Micrometeoroids and orbital debris (M&D) are an important component of the space environment. High velocity interaction with spacecraft could be of serious concern for the operation of long-lived space structures and for manned operations in space. Since the beginning of space exploration, dedicated experiments designed to sample the low Earth orbit orbital debris and meteoroid environment have been used in low Earth orbits. Upon the SAC-D mission, an experiment package from CNES, CARMEN was deployed. One of the experiments, SODAD-2 was devoted to the detection of micrometeoroid and space debris. The capacitor type sensors allow the detection of particles larger than 1 µm in diameter. This was the first dust measurement on a sun-synchronous orbit. The behaviour of the experiment was nominal and impact flux data recorded are compared with similar experiments and with current flux models. Most of the impacts appear to be not random and some of them could be associated with peculiar events, having generated particles at a higher altitude. The same trend was observed on a similar experiment flown on the ISS.
Active detection of micrometeoroids and space debris SODAD-2 experiment on SAC-D satellite
Advances in Space Research ; 69 , 10 ; 3856-3863
2022-02-23
8 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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