Predicting the probability that earth-orbiting spacecraft will collide with man-made objects in spaceA probabilistic approach to the problem of collisions is made possible by basing a model of the relevant characteristics of the total population on the known properties of a fraction of the total. A method of determining collision probability for objects in any two different but potentially intersecting orbits is derived. Collision probabilities for earth-orbital missions are investigated parametrically as a function of orbital characteristics and a hypothetical projection of the results to future orbital missions is discussed.
Document ID
19750029609
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Brooks, D. R.
Bess, T. D. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, Va., United States)
Gibson, G. G. (LTV Aerospace Corp. Hampton, Va., United States)