Previous studies have shown that disposal orbits for the medium Earth orbit constellations can be unstable and undergo significant long-term eccentricity growth. This can lead to repenetration of the constellations by disposed vehicles, thereby posing a collision risk. The study presented here investigated the possibility of diluting disposal orbit collision risk by exploiting long-term eccentricity growth. The Galileo constellation was selected as an example. Various disposal strategies were considered. It was found that high eccentricity growth strategies can reduce the combined constellation and intra-graveyard collision risk relative to a minimum eccentricity growth strategy. High eccentricity growth strategies also offer the option of significantly increasing the percentage of disposed vehicles that will re-enter the atmosphere within 200 years after disposal rather than remain on orbit for thousands of years. High eccentricity growth strategies thereby offer an effective and potentially inexpensive option for medium Earth orbit debris mitigation.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff über TIB

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    DILUTION OF DISPOSAL ORBIT COLLISION FOR THE MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT CONSTELLATIONS

    Jenkin, A. B. / Gick, R. A. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005



    Long-term collision risk prediction for low Earth orbit satellite constellations

    Walker, R. / Stokes, P. H. / Wilkinson, J. E. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000


    Low earth orbit constellations: orbit control or not

    Radzik, J. / Maral, G. / Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993


    Low Earth Orbit Constellations Design with Good Dilution of Precision - Abstract

    Ma, D.-M. / American Astronautical Society| American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996