Effective Search Strategy Applicable for Breakup Fragments in the Geostationary Region

Abstract

This paper proposes to apply the space debris modeling techniques to devise an effective search strategy applicable for breakup fragments in the geostationary region. The space debris modeling techniques describe debris generation and orbit propagation to effectively conduct predictive analyses of space objects that include characterizing, tracking, and predicting the behavior of individual and groups of space objects. Therefore, the techniques can predict population of debris from a specific breakup event. The population prediction specifies effectively when, where, and how optical measurements using ground-based telescopes should be conducted. The space debris modeling techniques can also predict motion of debris in successive images taken with ground-based telescopes. The motion prediction specifies effectively and precisely how successive images of objects in the geostationary region should be processed. This paper also validates the proposed search strategy through actual observations, targeting the U.S. Titan IIIC Transtage explosion in the geostationary region.