Abstract A long-term evolution of space debris environment has been simulated by a numerical model. Based on previously published results in many 50-year runs of the “dynamic model”, an “average model” is derived to reduce the computation time in order to effectively simulate a very-long-term evolution of space debris environment. The evolution of space debris environment is examined with two different future space activities in LEO: (1) Increase the yearly traffic input of new satellites by 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 50%; and (2) place ten large space structures of 100 meters in diameter in the year 1995 at either 500 km or 1000 km altitude. The results indicate that in a 170-year span from 1983, every space activity listed above results in a rapid runaway of debris fluxes from objects of 4 mm or larger.


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    Title :

    Orbital debris environment resulting from future activities in space


    Contributors:
    Su, Shin-Yi (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1987-01-01


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English