AAS 96-120

AN EXAMINATION OF THE HISTORIES OF INTERESTING DEBRIS SATELLTES

G. T. DeVere and R. B. Teets, SenCom Corporation

Abstract

The United States Space Surveillance Network tracks and maintains positional data on nearly 8000 debris objects larger than 10 cm in earth orbit. The physical characteristics of most debris objects, such as size, shape, mass are not known. Orbital analysts have uncovered numerous examples of unusual behavior in one or more of the classical orbital elements of debris objects when plotted over long time periods (years). It is believed that the odd orbital behavior is partially attributable to the physical characteristics of the debris objects themselves and their interaction with the space environment, and the paper will discuss this behavior.