Dynamics of Debris Motion and the Collision Hazard to Spacecraft Resulting from an Orbital Breakup

Abstract

This report presents the results of studies concerning the dynamics of orbital breakups of space objects and the resultant hazards to spacecraft. Topics considered include the dynamics of orbiting debris clouds, analytical spacecraft breakup models, and the description of program DERBIS which was developed to determine the collision hazard to resident space objects after an orbital breakup event.