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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
The History Of Space Debris, Loretta Hall
The History Of Space Debris, Loretta Hall
Space Traffic Management Conference
This paper examines what space debris consists of and where it came from. In 1958, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh published the results of his research into the existence of natural debris near the Earth, concluding that no such debris existed. During the ensuing fifty-five years, man-made debris has been accumulating to the point that it threatens launches, active satellites, and the International Space Station. NASA reported that as of 2013, more than 21,000 pieces the size of a softball or larger were being tracked, as were about 500,000 pieces at least the size of a marble and “many millions” of pieces …
An Integrated Approach To Orbital Debris Research And Management, Marshall H. Kaplan
An Integrated Approach To Orbital Debris Research And Management, Marshall H. Kaplan
Space Traffic Management Conference
A viable space traffic management program faces a great barrier caused by the ever-increasing number and variety of orbiting objects ranging in size from a few microns to several meters. Although several international agreements to limit the growth rate of orbital debris are in place, the risk of damage and destruction to active satellites is continually rising. The urgency of this situation was highlighted by the 2007 Chinese ASAT test and the collision of Iridium and Cosmos satellites in 2009. Although many debris removal techniques have been posited none have been implemented. Unless a space debris reduction program is undertaken …
Weather Research Requirements To Improve Space Launch From Cape Canaveral Air Force Station And Nasa Kennedy Space Center, William P. Roeder, Lisa L. Huddleston, William H. Bauman Iii, Kelly B. Doser
Weather Research Requirements To Improve Space Launch From Cape Canaveral Air Force Station And Nasa Kennedy Space Center, William P. Roeder, Lisa L. Huddleston, William H. Bauman Iii, Kelly B. Doser
Space Traffic Management Conference
Weather has a large affect on operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Weather is the leading source of scrubs and delays to space launch from CCAFS/KSC. Weather has an even larger impact on ground processing as space launch vehicles and payloads are prepared in the months before space launch. Many of those operations are very sensitive to weather. In addition, the weather in Florida is notoriously difficult to predict, especially during the summer when rapid deep convection can occur in minutes. Finally, the weather can be extremely subtle in this area during …
Where Is Space? And Why Does That Matter?, Bhavya Lal, Emily Nightingale
Where Is Space? And Why Does That Matter?, Bhavya Lal, Emily Nightingale
Space Traffic Management Conference
Despite decades of debate on the topic, there is no consensus on what, precisely, constitutes the boundary between airspace and outer space. The topic is mired in legal and political conundrums, and the easy solution to-date has been to not agree on a definition of space. Lack of a definition, some experts claim, has not limited space-based activities, and therefore is not a hurdle that must be overcome. There are increasing calls however in light of increasing (and expectations of increasing) space traffic, both orbital and sub-orbital. This paper summarizes the proposed delimitation of space, the current debate on whether …
Challenges And Opportunities Related To Landing The Dream Chaser® Commercial Reusable Space Vehicle At A Public-Use Airport, Brian Gulliver, Cassie Lee, Frank Taylor, Ken Ibold, Christopher Allison
Challenges And Opportunities Related To Landing The Dream Chaser® Commercial Reusable Space Vehicle At A Public-Use Airport, Brian Gulliver, Cassie Lee, Frank Taylor, Ken Ibold, Christopher Allison
Space Traffic Management Conference
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Space Systems is developing the Dream Chaser® reusable space vehicle for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Dream Chaser is a lifting body vehicle that lands on a runway similar to the Space Shuttle. Unlike the Shuttle, the Dream Chaser does not require any unique landing aids or specialized equipment as it uses all non-toxic propellants and industry standard subsystems. This allows for immediate access to crew and cargo at wheels-stop. Requiring only 8,000 ft/2,400 m of runway for landing, the Dream Chaser is compatible with numerous public runways. There are, however, unique and complex challenges …