Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

Joanne L Levatin

Scot S Olivier

Willem H De Vries

Alexander Pertica

Donald W Phillion

John R Henderson

Sergei Nikolaev

Matthew A Horsley

Harry K Springer

Ming Jiang

A space object modeling system that models the evolution of space debris is provided. The modeling system simulates interaction of space objects at simulation times throughout a simulation period. The modeling system includes a propagator that calculates the position of each object at each simulation time based on orbital parameters. The modeling system also includes a collision detector that, for each pair of objects at each simulation time, performs a collision analysis. When the distance between objects satisfies a conjunction criterion, the modeling system calculates a local minimum distance between the pair of objects based on a curve fitting to identify a time of closest approach at the simulation times and calculating the position of the objects at the identified time. When the local minimum distance satisfies a collision criterion, the modeling system models the debris created by the collision of the pair of objects.

Modeling the long-term evolution of space debris

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Livermore, CA, United States of America

Joanne L Levatin