AOE 2104: Introduction to

Aerospace Engineering and

Aircraft Performance
Lecture 15b: Orbital Debris

Dr. H. Pat Artis

29 November 2018
 Big Sky Theory
• If there is so much sky and
so few planes, why worry
about air traffic collisions –
June 30, 1956?

• In remote ocean areas,

why worry about air traffic
collisions – Sept 15, 1997?

• If space is infinite, why

worry about satellite
collisions – Feb 11, 2009?

11/29/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 2

 The Growth of Orbital Debris

In July of 2013, there were estimated to be over 170 million pieces of debris smaller than 1 cm (0.39 in). There were approximately
670,000 pieces from one to ten cm. The then current count of large debris (defined as 10 cm across or larger) was 29,000.

11/29/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 3

 NASA LDEF
• Launched April 7th, 1984
• 30 feet long and 14 feet in diameter
• Intended to be deployed for 18
months to test materials
• Recovery was delayed by the
Challenger accident until January 1990
• Scientists were shocked by the impact
damage that had been experienced by
the LDEF specimens
11/29/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 4
11/29/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 5
 Anti-Satellite Weapons

US tested a F-15 based system in 1984-85. US also tested an

Aegis ship based system in 2008 using the SM-3 missile.

11/29/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTJ8HQWLzR8 6

Advice for Your Future as a Student and Engineer
• Since all of the grades are in except for the final exam, I would like to give you
some advice about your future as a student and as an engineer

• Excuses and complaints are not an effective strategy for arguing poor or late work:
– The requirement for putting our name on the home work was not clear
– The “all home work bonus” is just a punishment for people who did not submit assignments
– Adobe made a mistake on my file name so I submitted last week’s home work again
– You are not fair
– I can prove that my home work was done before the deadline, I just forgot to submit it

• However, honesty can be far more effective:

– Not submitting my home work on time was my error and I won’t make that mistake again. Can you
grade the home work so I can check if I understand the material?
– After all of my other home works have been submitted and graded, can I ask you to reconsider my
late home work for credit?
11/29/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 7
 One Final Thing – It Ain’t Over Till

Thank You!
11/27/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 8
 Questions
10/2/18 AOE 2104 - Fall 2018 9