Impact Risks and Impact Damage of Space Debris

Abstract

More and more problems are caused in space activities due to the increasing volume of space debris. The greatest danger is the impact and the collision of objects. For simulating impact risks a proper space debris environmental model is needed. In recent research projects five main short-term and about four long-term space debris models are used to estimate the number and position of space debris. During space shuttle missions collision risk assessments have been proved to be inevitable. With the assistance of space debris environment models, the risk of collision among operational spacecraft and space debris can be calculated and decreased. To estimate the number of recent space objects there are land and space based systems both optical and radar measurements. The most important are the space based methods that means the uses of retrieved surfaces and impact detectors. There is also a risk for re-entering space debris. The risk-entry is not only from mechanical impact, but also from chemical or radiological contamination to the environment. Risk assessments are being utilized to design the location and type of space debris shielding that will protect the crew as well as the crucial subsystems both on manned and unmanned spacecrafts.