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Improving the Near-Earth Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Environment Definition with LADCThe Large Area Debris Collector (LADC) is a 10 m(sup 2) aerogel and acoustic sensor system designed to characterize and collect submillimeter micrometeoroids and orbital debris on the International Space Station (ISS). The project is led by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) with major collaboration by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office at Johnson Space Center. The U.S. Department of Defense Space Test Program (STP) is responsible for the integration, deployment, and retrieval of the system. The deployment is scheduled for August 2007 with an orbital collection period of one to two years. The combined area time product of LADC will provide a much needed orbital debris population update in the size regime that is important to the safety community - 100 mm and larger. Another key element for LADC is the source identification of the collected samples. Impact features such as track length and track volume can be used to estimate the impact speed and direction of any selected residual embedded in aerogel. Acoustic sensors can provide impact timing and impact location information. The combined dynamical signatures make it possible to reconstruct the orbits of some of the collected samples and lead to their source identification. Compositional analysis on the residuals can also separate debris from meteoroids and provide additional population breakdown for orbital debris (e.g., Al, paint, steel, Al2O3). To maximize the science return and minimize potential contamination from other ISS modules, a careful selection of the location and orientation of LADC on the ISS is needed. Key issues and engineering constraints encountered during mission preparation, and the expected science return based on the mission configuration, are summarized in this paper.
Document ID
20080026052
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Liou, J.-C.
(Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Giovane, F.
(Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC, United States)
Corsaro, R.
(Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC, United States)
Stansbery, E.
(ARES Corp. Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
October 2, 2006
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: 57th International Astronautical Congress
Location: Valencia
Country: Spain
Start Date: October 2, 2006
End Date: October 6, 2006
Sponsors: International Astronautical Federation
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 939904.06.05.03
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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