Effective Search Strategy Applicable for Breakup Fragments in the Geostationary Region

Abstract

This paper proposes to apply the orbital debris modeling techniques to devise an effective search strategy applicable for breakup fragments in the geostationary region. The orbital debris modeling techniques describe debris generation and propagation to effectively conduct predictive analyses of space objects that include characterizing, tracking and predicting the behavior of individual and groups of space objects. Therefore, the techniques enable us to predict population of debris from a specific breakup. The population prediction specifies effectively when, where and how we should conduct optical measurements using ground-based telescopes. The orbital debris modeling techniques also enable us to predict motion of debris in successive images. The motion prediction specifies effectively and precisely how we should process successive images of objects in the geostationary region, taken with ground-based telescopes. This paper also validates the proposed search strategy through actual observations, targeting the US Titan IIIC transtage explosion in the geostationary region.