The Interaction between the LEO Satellite Constellation and the Space Debris Environment
Source abstract
Abstract
The wide application of satellite constellations in the field of space-based global communications and remote sensing has led to a substantial increase in small-satellite launch plans, a sharp increase in the density of space objects in low-Earth orbit (LEO), and a reduction in available orbit and frequency resources. This will further aggravate the trend of deterioration of the space debris environment. Taking the Starlink constellation as an example, this paper describes the influence of the constellation from the environmental debris flux of the satellite, the evaluation of the number of evasion maneuvers, the change of risk level, the success rate of post mission disposal (PMD) and the growth rate of space objects. The simulation results show that the collision risk of the Starlink constellation is related to the orbital parameters, and the higher success rate of post-mission disposal (PMD) can reduce the collision risk of the constellation. The large constellations increases the growth rate of space objects, and even if all the satellites are disposed of after the mission, the impact of constellations on the space environment can not be offset.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Space Satellite Systems and Control · Astro and Planetary Science · Space exploration and regulation
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Environmental Space Situation Awareness, CAS, Beijing 100190, China
NO. 31010 Troops, Beijing 100081, China
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