Space Debris

Space Debris

Space Debris

The Space Debris Group of the Institute of Space Systems is one of the leading expert teams in the field of modeling the space debris environment. Relevant tools developed in this context on behalf of the ESA include MASTER (Meteoroid and Space Debris Terrestrial Environment Reference) and PROOF (Program for Radar and Optical Observation Forecasting). Other important pillars of the Space Debris Group include long-term simulations of the space debris environment and Space Situational Awareness (SSA). In the field of long-term simulations, scientists from the group participate in meetings of the Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) as part of the delegation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Considering current trends in space exploration, such as the construction of mega-constellations, SSA, which involves monitoring the current and future positions of as many objects in Earth's orbit as possible, becomes increasingly important to continue conducting missions successfully and safely. 

Areas of work

Space Debris Modeling:

• Modeling individual sources: explosion and collision fragments, slag particles, aluminum oxide dust, NaK drops, ejecta particles, particle detachment due to surface aging processes, micrometeoroids.
• Simulation of generation events: prediction of the temporal and spatial distribution of objects on any orbit.
• Simulation of historical and current fragmentation events.

Space Debris Long-Term Simulation:

• Analysis of the impact of avoidance measures on the future space debris environment.
• Analysis of collision-induced chain reaction effects (cascade effect).

Space Debris Risk Analysis:

• Particle flow analyses on satellite surfaces.
• Analysis of penetration and failure probability.

Space Debris Observation:

• Design of optical sensors and radars (monostatic, bistatic, phased array).
• Planning of measurement campaigns.
• Analysis of sensor networks and their performance.
• Sensor tasking.

Orbital Mechanics:

• Orbit propagation.
• Orbit tracking.
• Initial and precise orbit determination.

Space Debris Cost-Benefit Analysis:

• Satellite protection measures.

• Cost-effectiveness of avoidance measures.

Orbital Nuclear Reactors:

• Risk analysis for deployment in Earth orbits.

• Re-entry prediction.