Haystack measurements of the orbital debris environment

Abstract

The Haystack radar has been observing the orbital debris environment since October 1990. These measurements have provided orbital debris researchers with two important tools for characterizing the environment: 1) the ability to detect small size debris objects from previously unknown sources and 2) the ability to extend the size distribution from the catalog limit (≈10 cm) down to 0.5 cm. Haystack data has identified small debris from several breakups and anomalous events: the Pegasus upper stage, satellite 23106; Cosmos 1484, satellite 14207; COBE, satellite 20332; Meteor 2–16 rocket body, satellite 18313; and the leakage of NaK droplets from the RORSAT class satellites. The time history of detection rate, and the flux, altitude, inclination, and size distributions have shown that the environment is very dynamic and the data is extremely useful as a benchmark for orbital debris modeling.