Technological Software Strategies
Author
Isabelle Jacobson
PHYS F211X F06, Fall 2018
Professor David Newman
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Space Debris Removal Systems

Space debris low in Earth's orbit has become a significant threat to current and future spacecraft missions.

  • Space debris can collide with and damage spacecraft.
  • These collisions contribute to the cascade effect of space debris.
  • As a result, space debris has become smaller and harder to detect by current systems.

If you are interested in learning about possible methods for active debris removal and technological methods of detecting and avoiding debris, continue reading »

General Evasive Maneuvers

This section will primarily discussing various ways to avoid collisions in maneuvering around debris, especially by further funding and developing the technology that contributes towards the different methods. Collisions between spacecraft and debris can result in chain collisions with debris. This contributes to the cascade effect that produces small fragments of debris. In evasive maneuvers, spacecraft intended to actively remove debris have the possibility of colliding with debris in the process.14
Because active space debris removal methods could cause further collisions, it is crucial that all systems have software to help removal systems avoid collisions and avoid causing further spacecraft collisions with other spacecraft or spacecraft collisions with debris. Ninety-nine percent of the probability of collision between spacecraft and debris is attributed to spacecraft’s close proximity to debris in Earth’s lower orbit and their “blindness” to surrounding debris.15Active debris removal (ADR) methods that disregard collision avoidance as part of their mission are a risk to the future of debris removal and increase the probability that collisions between spacecraft and debris will occur and thus result in small debris that is hard to detect.