SPACE JUNK

A Concept for Elimination of Orbital Debris

PRESENTED BY T. VISWANATH P.ASHOK KUMAR MAIL ID:viswanath.thatha@gmail.com CONTACT NO: 7842768496/9603736170

Introduction Space debris can be broadly classified into two categories: (i) large debris with dimension larger than 10 cm and (ii) small debris with dimension smaller than 10 cm. The smaller debris are more numerous and are difficult to detect and impossible to individually track. This makes them more dangerous than the fewer larger debris which can be tracked and hence avoided. In addition, there are solutions for larger debris, for example, NRLs FREND device that can remove large objects from useful orbits and place them in graveyard orbits1). To the best of our knowledge there are no credible solutions for the small debris. Damage from even millimeter size debris can be dangerous. Fig. 1 shows examples of damage by small debris collision. The source of small debris is thought to be collision between large objects2), such as spent satellites, which can lead to a collisional cascade3). Perhaps a more ominous source of smaller debris is collision between large and small objects as we describe in the following. Since such collisions will be more frequent our focus is to develop a concept for eliminating the small orbital debris which cannot be individually tracked to evade collision. A one-centimeter piece of debris doesn't sound like much, but at the high orbital velocities in space, it can pack a wallop. Orbital speeds in LEO are typically greater than 7 kilometers per second (30 times faster than a jet aircraft). That means that the relative speed of debris could be 10 kilometers per second or more. That's a lot of kinetic energy. A speck of paint from a satellite once dug a pit in a space shuttle window nearly a quarter-inch wide (see photo).

What is Orbital Debris? Orbital debris generally refers to material that is on orbit as the result of space missions, but is no longer serving any function. There are many sources of debris. One source is discarded hardware. For example, many launch vehicle upper stages have been left on orbit after they are spent. Many satellites are also abandoned at the end of useful life. Another source of debris is spacecraft and mission operations, such as deployments and separations. These have typically involved the release of items such as separation bolts, lens caps, momentum flywheels, nuclear reactor cores, clamp bands, auxiliary motors, launch vehicle fairings, and adapter shrouds. Material degradation due to atomic oxygen, solar heating, and solar radiation has resulted in the production of particulates such as paint flakes and bits of multilayer insulation. Solid rocket motors used to boost satellite orbits have produced various debris items, including motor casings, aluminum

oxide exhaust particles, nozzle slag, motorliner residuals, solid-fuel fragments, and exhaust cone bits resulting from erosion during the burn. A major contributor to the orbital debris background has been object breakup. More than 124 breakups have been verified, and more are believed to have occurred. Breakups generally are caused by explosions and collisions with other objects in space, but the majority of breakups have been caused to explosions. Explosions can occur when propellant and oxidizer inadvertently mix, residual propellant becomes overpressurized due to heating, or batteries become overpressurized. Some satellites have been deliberately detonated. Explosions can also be indirectly triggered by collisions with debris. Three collisions are known to have occurred since the beginning of the space age. In addition, the debris research community has concluded that at least one additional breakup was caused by collision. The cause of approximately 22 percent of observed breakups is unknown.

dominates the natural meteoroid population for object sizes 1 mm and larger.

Approximately 70,000 objects estimated to be 2 cm in size have been observed in the 850-1,000 km altitude band. NASA has hypothesized that these objects are frozen bits of nuclear reactor coolant that are leaking from a number of Russian RORSATs. At altitudes of 2,000 km and lower, it is generally accepted that the debris population

Space so full of junk that a satellite collision could destroy communications on Earth Space is so littered with debris that a collision between satellites could set off an uncontrolled chain reaction capable of destroying the communications network on Earth, a Pentagon report warned.

Artwork showing space debris in low and geostationary Earth orbit. Space debris includes thousands of inactive satellites, fragments of broken up spacecraft and equipment lost by astronauts. This artwork is based on density data, but is not to scale Photo: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRAR According to Jonathan's Space Report there are about 6600 useless american rockets and satellites in Earth orbit. At least 10,000 objects are larger than 10 centimeters. About 100,000 objects are larger than 1 centimeter. According to a report published in journal Science (J.C. Liou and N. L. Johnson, January 20, 2006, vol. 340-341) the pieces of space junk measuring 10 centimeters or more have the total mass of 5,500 tons. Junk mass in low Earth orbit (up to the altitude of 2000 kilometers) is about 2000 tons. Most of the junk is located between the altitudes of 900 km and 1000 km. Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has been advocating, without success, to enact international law restricting the pollution. Junk in the geostationary orbit needs just a little nudge to be corralled into one lump, but junk in the unpredictable, low Earth orbits is much more difficult to remove. Most of the low Earth orbit junk are russian objects in nearly polar orbits (inclination greater than 70 angle degrees).

Debrisproblem Debris orbiting Earth is a growing problem. Two years ago, a satellite owned by the communications provider Iridium, based in McLean, Virginia, smashed into a defunct Russian satellite at ten times the speed of a rifle bullet, putting an end to the big sky theory that assumed space was too vast for chance collisions. That incident alone created more than 1,700 pieces of debris, raising the total amount by nearly 20 per cent. Space analysts are concerned about the possible onset of Kessler syndrome, when enough debris is present to make collisions so likely there would be an avalanche effect that would leave the Earths orbit uninhabitable for satellites. Characterization Large vs. small orbit plane if no maneuvers are performed. Active satellites maintain their station via thrusters, but if they become inoperable they become a collision concern (as in the case of Telstar 401). There has been estimated to be one close (within 50 meters) approach per year On the upside, relative velocities in GEO are low, compared with those between objects in largely random low earth orbits. The impact velocities peak at about 1.5 kilometres per second (0.93 mi/s). This means that the debris field from such a collision is not the same as a LEO collision and does not pose the same sort of risks, at least over the short term. It would, however, almost certainly knock the satellite out of operation. Large-scale structures, like solar power satellites, would be almost certain to suffer major collisions over short periods of time.

In response, the ITU has placed increasingly strict requirements on the station-keeping ability of new satellites and demands that the owners guarantee their ability to safely move the satellites out of their orbital slots at the end of their lifetime. However, studies have suggested that even the existing ITU requirements are not enough to have a major effect on collision frequencyAdditionally, GEO orbit is too distant to make accurate measurements of the existing debris field for objects under 1 metre (3 ft 3 in), so the precise nature of the existing problem is not well known. Others have suggested that these satellites be moved to empty spots within GEO, which would require less maneuvering and make it easier to predict future motion An additional risk is presented by satellites in other orbits, especially those satellites or boosters left stranded in geostationary transfer orbit, which are a concern due to the typically large crossing velocities. the spacecraft to send it to a parking orbit out of GEO Tracking system

NORAD, the North American Air Defense, tracks all known space debris larger than a softball. This information is important for launches, manned and unmanned spacecraft that could be damaged in a collision, and even to prevent war on Earth. Sometimes, when debris re-enters our atmosphere, it causes a great explosion and sonic booms. These events can be misinterpreted by neighboring countries, who might fear some sort of missile strike is underway. Unexpected meteor entries have caused similar problems in the past Australia's EOS to upgrade space-junk tracker optical tracking system will

improve existing capabilities at the Mount

This project will demonstrate responsive, high-precision laser and optical tracking on space debris, improved space situational awareness for key space assets, and fully remote and automated operation of a highperformance laser tracking system. The potential destructiveness of the debris left behind by human activity in space has long been recognized a single major incident in the geosynchronous orbit could destroy key communications satellites, for example. Speaking to optics.org, Smith added that detecting although the specific details of system performance and targets were confidential, the laser tracker is capable of objects less than 10 cm across at distances beyond 1000 km.

Stromlo observatory near Canberra. A consortium led by the Australian company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is to build an automated laser system to track tiny pieces of space junk that threaten orbiting satellites. The Australian Space Research Program awarded EOS subsidiary EOS Space Systems a AUS$4 million ($3.6 million) contract to upgrade an existing manned tracking system to reduce operating costs. The consortium members, which include US-based Global Near-Space Services, will use the grant to part-fund a AUS$9 million project to upgrade the system at the Mount Stromlo observatory located near Canberra, the Australian capital. Craig Smith, the chief executive at EOS Space Systems, explained why the upgrade was needed: Current space surveillance and tracking systems cannot determine orbits in space with sufficient accuracy to cost-effectively mitigate collisions between satellites and space debris.

A number of radar systems and optical telescopes have previously been used to m.onitor space debris: these include the 3 meter liquid mirror telescope in New Mexico, which was closed in 2001, and two telescopes in Maui, Hawaii. Located on top of the Haleakala volcano, one of these instruments measures the spectra and albedo of space debris. Measurement in space

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) is an important source of information on the small particle space debris environment.

Returned space debris hardware is a valuable source of information on the (submillimetre) space debris environment. The LDEF satellite deployed by STS-41-C Challenger and retrieved by STS-32 Columbia spent 68 months in orbit. Close examination of its surfaces allowed an analysis of the directional distribution and composition of the debris flux. The EURECA satellite deployed by STS-46 Atlantis in 1992 and retrieved by STS-57 Endeavour in 1993 was similarly used for debris studies. The solar arrays of the Hubble Space Telescope returned during missions STS-61 Endeavour and STS-109 Columbia are an important source of information on the debris environment. The impact craters found on the surface were counted and classified by ESA to provide a means for validating debris environment models. Similar materials returned from Mir were extensively studied, notably the Mir Environmental Effects Payload which studied the environment in the Mir area.[119][120]the same end. A number of other proposals use more novel solutions to the problem, from foamy ball of aerogel or spray of water inflatable balloons, electrodynamics tethers,[ On January 7, 2010 Star Inc. announced that it had won a contract from Navy/SPAWAR for a feasibility study of the application of the Electrodynamics Debris Eliminator (EDDE). or dedicated "interceptor satellites.As of 2006, the cost of launching any of these solutions is about the same as launching any spacecraft. Johnson stated that none of the existing solutions are currently costeffective.

NASA researchers have considered using a ground-based laser to mitigate debris collisions before. However, in their laser broom concept, a powerful, megawatt-class laser would vaporize the surface of a piece of debris that is heading for another, causing the debris to recoil out of harms way. But some are concerned that the laser could be used as a weapon, as it could easily damage an enemys active satellites. Now, James Mason, a NASA contractor at the Universities Space Research Association in Moffett Field, California, and his colleagues have come up with a variation on the laser broom concept that they claim is unlikely to be useful as a weapon.

Laserconcept

Mason and colleagues suggest using a medium-powered laser of 5-10 kilowatts to illuminate debris with light a few times more intense than sunlight, imparting just enough momentum to nudge the debris off course. We think this scheme is potentially

one of the least-threatening ways to solve a problem that has to be addressed, Nature quoted Mason as saying. In the researchers proposal, a piece of debris that has a high risk of collision would be tracked by another laser and a telescope. As the debris comes over the horizon, technicians would switch on the main laser and illuminate the debris until it reaches its highest point. If the debris isnt nudged far enough to avoid a collision the first time, the technicians would repeat the procedure for several days until the collision risk becomes negligible. With just one laser facility, Masons group says, the number of debris collisions could be almost halved. Whats more, by mitigating the number of collisions, the amount of debris would lessen as it slowly burns up in Earths atmosphere. And that would avoid the onset of Kessler syndrome, the researchers say

which could puncture holes in the hull of the ISS. If a clean up system is not put in place soon, NASA scientists say there is a one in 10 chance an object will damage the ISS during the next 10 years. The increased amount of space junk has become a problem for the ISS and for other space missions. The station is equipped to deal with items smaller than one centimeter, while controllers on the ground can spot anything larger than ten centimeters and give the crew advance warning. But intermediate objects significant damage. could cause

"The result could be much worse, like the difference between a single bullet and a shotgun blast," Jonathan Campbell, a scientist at the Marshall Space Flight Center in the US city of Huntsville, told New Scientist. He said a clean-up operation would cost 200 million dollars (220 million euros) and take two years. Campbell said a laser pulse could lock a piece of debris, slow it down and sweep it out of the path of the Researchers are now experimenting tracking objects from the ground. onto then ISS. with

NASA Hopes Laser Broom Will Help Clean Up Space Debris NASA is to test a laser "broom" capable of removing debris in the path of the International Space Station (ISS), on a space shuttle mission in 2003, the British magazine New Scientist reports in its Saturday issue. The broom, dubbed Project Orion, is designed to stop objects between one and 10 centimeters (0.4 to 4 inches) in diameter,

One terrestial obstacle to the project is international treaties barring laser weapons in space. John Pike at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington told the magazine that although NASA's plans were above reproach "other countries have plenty of reasons to be suspicious."

The US Naval Research Laboratory is proposing to encircle the Earth with tungsten dust in an attempt to bring down dangerous space junk

more rapidly. That sounds perfectly sensible but their method is likely to be controversial. Their scheme is to release some 20 tons of tungsten dust at an altitude of 1100km, creating a thin shell of particles that will entirely envelop the Earth. These tungsten particles will be just 30 micrometres across but still capable of packing a punch, tungsten being 1.7 times denser than lead. Ganguli and co say that the dust's interaction with the atmosphere will cause its orbit to decay slowly. But within 10 years or so, it should drop below the critical 900 km level. After that, it will deorbit more quickly.

Space junk is a serious problem, particularly in some orbits where debris is increasing at alarming rates. While there are some 900 active satellites orbiting the Earth, there are 19,000 bits of junk larger than 10 cm across. This stuff is big enough to be tracked and catalogued on the ground so that operational satellites can move away if it becomes a threat. But it's the smaller stuff that represents a more insidious threat since it cannot be seen and therefore can't be avoided. Most experts agree that there's at least an order of magnitude more of this small stuff than large bits up there. So what to do? Various organisations have suggested ways of minimising junk, such as reducing the amount of deliberately jettisoned junk such as lens caps, and by deorbiting defunct satellites or moving them into safe orbits using space tugs. But these measures will only help reduce the amount of big junk. The smaller stuff is much harder to clean up. There is a natural process that can help. Below 900km, the Earth generates a small but significant amount drag, which deorbits small junk in 25 years or less. So here the orbits are naturally flushed clean. But above 900km, the life time of junk stretches into centuries. Their idea is to increase the drag on the stuff above 900 km so that their orbits decay