NASA’S ORBITAL DEBRIS CONJUNCTION ASSESSMENT AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE STRATEGY

摘要

Avoiding collisions with orbital debris has become an increasingly importantpart of NASA’s spaceflight operations. The process began as part of the ShuttleProgram return to flight effort after the Challenger accident. The initial processwas developed using parametric data and involved using maneuver thresholdboxes around the Shuttle. As the Space Station Program was being developedit was realized that using the box method would result in an unacceptablyhigh maneuver rate. Therefore, a new approach for Space Station was developedcollaboratively by NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) & United StatesStrategic Command (USSTRATCOM)?using event specific probability calculationsbased on the covariances of the Space Station and debris object. TheSpace Shuttle Program also adopted this new approach. This methodology waslater picked up by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to developa process to protect NASA’s unmanned (robotic) assets. This new event specificapproach dramatically reduced the maneuver rate compared to using athreshold box, while still providing a high level of safety for NASA’s spacecraft.