This paper examines interactions of single and multi-strand tethers with the meteoroid and orbital debris complex in low Earth orbit (LEO). The techniques by which a tether owner/operator may establish baseline estimates of on-orbit lifetime or sever rates using the publicly available NASA ORDEM96 engineering model of the orbital debris environment and the NASA SSP-30425 and SP-8013 models of the meteoroid complex are explored. The concepts of cross-sectional area and surface area flux are explained, with examples, to illustrate for the engineer the method of calculating impact rates of each debris component on the tether. The tether and composite material impact effects literature is then reviewed, and applied to an estimation of tether sever rates, given the previously calculated impact rates. Single and multi-strand tethers are examined to formulate the probability of tether failure in the event of an impact.


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    Title :

    Tether-debris interactions in low Earth orbit


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Space Technology and Applications International Forum - 2001 ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 552 , 1 ; 525-531


    Publication date :

    2001-02-02


    Size :

    7 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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