GEO space debris flux determination based on earth-fixed coordinate system

Abstract

An analysis is performed on the space debris flux determination of geosynchronous (GEO) orbit based on earth-fixed coordinate system. As part of the examination, flux contribution from different components of space debris is presented here in order to clarify the linkage between orbital characteristic and resulting flux distribution. The analysis of GEO flux determination based on earth-fixed coordinate system reveals several new insights: 1) Near the GEO equatorial plane, average flux mainly centralizes in two azimuth ranges: the higher priority one, local azimuth close to±90°, mainly contributed from objects with relatively larger inclination; the lower priority one, local azimuth close to 0°, mainly contributed from objects with relatively smaller inclination. 2) Impact flux against geostationary satellites is not unified by longitude. Longitude-dependent flux determination based on earth-fixed frame reveals that impact flux against geostationary satellite near the geopotential wells (105°W and 75°E longitude zones) is about two to three times larger than average. 3) The comparison of flux determination against certain targets based on earth-fixed coordinate system and inertially-fixed coordinate system shows significant difference.