Relationship of radar cross section to the geometric size of orbital debrisAn accurate determination of the sizes of orbiting debris objects is essential to predicting collision rates, atmospheric decay rates, and fragmentation laws for orbiting objects. The radar cross section (RCS) is the most common means of estimating the size of orbiting objects. However, the RCS is prone to error due to Mie scattering, compositional effects, geometrical effects, tumbling, and other dependencies. Optical measurement methods are theoretically much more accurate, but necessitate estimates of the object's albedo. This paper examines the relationship of RCS and optical cross section to physical size and albedo, and presents rules useful for quantizing the physical size of space objects.
Document ID
19900044989
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Badhwar, Gautam D. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Anz-Meador, Phillip D. (Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Co. Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1990
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking