Identification and resolution of an orbital debris problem with the proton launch vehicle

B. V. Cherniatiev; Grigorii M. Chernyavskiy; Nicholas L. Johnson; Darren S. McKnight

doi:10.1117/12.156549

15 September 1993 Identification and resolution of an orbital debris problem with the proton launch vehicle

B. V. Cherniatiev, Grigorii M. Chernyavskiy, Nicholas L. Johnson, Darren S. McKnight

Proceedings Volume 1951, Space Debris Detection and Mitigation; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156549
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

On at least six occasions during 1983-1992, operational debris released from the fourth stage of Russian Proton launch vehicles fragmented, creating up to 60 new trackable debris in Earth orbit after each event. Surprisingly, these fragmentations occurred 18 - 96 months following successful Proton missions. One month after the fifth incident in September, 1992, an international investigation employing American space surveillance data and analyses and Russian engineering knowledge determined the probable cause of the satellite breakups. Preventive measures are now being developed for future Proton flights. The unprecedented Russian-American cooperation leading to the resolution of this environmental issue should serve as a model for future investigations.

Citation Download Citation

B. V. Cherniatiev, Grigorii M. Chernyavskiy, Nicholas L. Johnson, and Darren S. McKnight "Identification and resolution of an orbital debris problem with the proton launch vehicle", Proc. SPIE 1951, Space Debris Detection and Mitigation, (15 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156549

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