Collision probabilities at geosynchronous altitudes
1985
Abstract A considerable collisional hazard to operational geostationary satellites is induced by a continuously increasing population of abandoned objects and related debris. During the past 5 years first measures have been taken to remove geostationary spacecraft from the geostationary altitude at the end of their operational life. Another concern is the crowding of active satellites at some preferred longitude positions. This paper analyses the hazard due to abandoned objects and the probability of a collision between satellites maintained within the same longitudinal slot. The operational satellites are represented by their spatial probability density in the geostationary ring. A sample of orbit propagations based on a first-order perturbation theory represents the uncontrolled objects passing through the geostationary region of space. A great number of small debris particles turns out to be particularly dangerous to large operational satellites.
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