Evolution of space debris for spacecraft in the Sun-synchronous orbit

Abstract

In this paper, the evolution of space debris for spacecraft in the Sun-Synchronous orbit has been investigated. The impact motion, the evolution of debris from the Sun-Synchronous orbit, as well as the evolution of debris clouds from the quasi-Sun-Synchronous orbit have been studied. The formulas to calculate the evolution of debris objects have been derived. The relative relationships of the velocity error and the rate of change of the right ascension of the ascending node have been presented. Three debris objects with different orbital parameters have been selected to investigate the evolution of space debris caused by the Sun-Synchronous orbit. The debris objects may stay in quasi-Sun-Synchronous orbits or non-Sun-Synchronous orbits, which depend on the initial velocity errors of these objects.

Keywords

• space debris
• debris impact
• debris clouds