SPACE DEBRIS

BY ;
VIGNESH PRASAD

CONTENTS
1) Introduction
2)Types of orbits
3) Sources of debris

4) Tracking and Measurement of debris

5) Clearance of space debris

6) References

WHAT ARE SPACE DEBRIS ?

Space debris , also known as orbital debris ,

space junk and space waste , is the collection

of defunct objects in orbit around Earth.
This includes everything from spent rocket

stages , old satellites , fragments from

disintegration , erosion and collision.

WHY ARE THEY A THREAT ?

Debris poses a growing threat to satellites and

could prevent the use of valuable orbits in the
future.

Many pieces of debris are too small to monitor

but too large to shield satellites against.

TYPES OF
ORBITS :
1. Low Earth
Orbit
2. Medium Earth

Orbit
3. Geostationary
Orbit
4. High Earth
Orbit

Low Earth Orbit :

Situated at an altitude between 160km and 2000km from Earths surface.
It has a time period of about 127 minutes.
Objects below approx. 160km will experience very rapid orbital decay and

altitude loss.
It is the simplest and most cost effective orbit for a satellite placement.

Currently , NASA tracks more than 8,500 objects larger than 10 cm in LEO.

Medium Earth
Orbit :
Situated from 2000 km to

36,000 km above Earths

surface.

The most common use for

satellites in this region is for

navigation , communication
and space environment
science.
Has an orbital period of 12

hours .

Geostationary
Earth Orbit :
It is a circular orbit at 35,786 km

above Earths surface and following the

Earths rotation .
An object in such an orbit has an

orbital period equal to the Earths

rotational period .
This makes them useful for

communications , as receiver on Earth

can always point in the same direction.

High Earth
Orbit :
Situated at above 36,000 km.

Little used by satellites .

Orbital periods of such orbits are greater than 24 hours.
Hence , satellites have an apparent retrograde motion .

Debris in LEO :
Satellites in LEO are in many different orbital planes
providing global coverage and the 15 orbits per day
typical of LEO satellites result in frequent approaches
between object pairs.
After space debris is created , the orbital planes

direction will change over time , and thus collisions

can occur from virtually any direction . This leads to a
cascading effect.

Debris at higher altitudes :

At higher altitudes , where atmospheric drag is less significant , orbital

decay takes much longer .

This issue is especially problematic in the valuable GEO orbits where

satellites are often clustered to share the same orbital paths .

It has been estimated that at least one close approach ( within 50 metres )

takes place every year .

On a positive note , relative velocities in GEO are low , compared to LEO

(about 1.5 kmps ).

This means that the debris field from such a collision will not have the

drastic effects as that of LEO , atleast over a short term .

SOURCES OF DEBRIS :
Dead spacecrafts
Boosters

Lost equipment

Tracking of debris :
Radar and optical detectors such as LIDAR are the main

tools used for tracking space debris.

Radio waves have been recently used. These waves are

transmitted into space and they bounce off of space junk

back to the origin that will detect and track the object.
Ground based radar facilities and space telescopes are

also used to track the debris.

Measurement of debris :
Returned hardware of space debris is a valuable source of

information of the environment .

Close examination of its surfaces allows an analysis of the

directional distribution and composition of the debris flux .

Some of the modules used were :

LDEF (Long duration exposure facility ) satellite

EURECA ( European Retrievable carrier )
STS-61 Endeavour
STS-109 Columbia

CLEARANCE OF SPACE DEBRIS

Some methods are :

Tug-like satellites
Electro dynamic tethers
Laser brooms
Solar sails
Space nets and collectors

Tug-like satellites :
The tug like satellites drag the debris to a safe altitude

in order for it to burn up in the atmosphere .

It creates an electron emission to create a difference in

potential between the debris as negative and itself as

positive .
The satellite then uses its own thrusters to propel itself

along with the debris to a safer orbit .

Electro-dynamic tethers :
An electro-dynamic tether

provides a simple and reliable

alternative to the conventional
rocket thrusters .
It works on the basic principle of

Lorentz force and Flemings Left

hand rule .

Magnetic force is exerted on a

current carrying wire in a direction

perpendicular to both the flow of
current and the magnetic field .

Laser brooms :
The laser broom uses a powerful ground based laser to ablate the

front surface off of debris and thereby produce a rocket like thrust
that slows the object .
With continued application the debris will eventually decrease their

altitude enough to become subject to atmospheric drag .

Additionally , the momentum of photons in the laser beam could be

used to impart thrust on the debris directly.

The current technology used is the Hydrogen fluoride chemical

energy powered laser.

contd

 Although this thrust would be tiny , it may be enough to

move small debris into new orbits that do not intersect those
of working satellites.

Solar sails :
The Solar sails uses the pressure
from sunlight to navigate an object,
just like a naval sail uses wind.
This way debris can be navigated
out of orbit and burn into the
atmosphere.
The only problem with the solar
sail is that its very hard to navigate
the junk into the ocean and hence
might be pretty dangerous.

Space nets :
Space nets or
umbrellas are
satellites which
eject a huge net
that fishes or
collects the debris
and is later
disposed off into a
graveyard orbit .

Collector
satellites :
The most
commonly used
collector satellite
is the Sling Sat .
It has two
extended arms
which collect the
debris as it is in
motion .

REFERENCE :
Donald Kessler (Kessler 1981), "Sources of Orbital Debris

and the Projected Environment for Future Spacecraft

www.wikipedia.com
www.nasa.gov

www.isro.org
www.nationalgeographic.com

Thank you

QUESTIONS?????