The Near-Earth Orbital Debris Problem and the Challenges for Environment Remediation
The Near-Earth Orbital Debris Problem and the Challenges for Environment Remediation
复制标题
近地轨道碎片问题及环境修复的挑战
DOI：
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发表时间：
2013
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
J. Liou
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. Liou
自55年前开始空间活动以来，近地空间环境逐渐受到轨道碎片的污染。虽然这个问题几十年来一直为研究界所知，但公众普遍不知道这个问题，直到2007年中国进行的反卫星试验和2009年宇宙2251号与运行中的铱33号相撞。后者还强调了在低地球轨道（低地轨道，低于2000公里高度的区域）持续发生碰撞级联效应（“凯斯勒综合症”）的可能性。最近的模拟结果表明，国际空间界普遍采取的缓减措施不足以稳定低地球轨道碎片群。为了更好地限制OD种群的增长，必须考虑采取更积极的行动。OD环境补救有三种备选办法----清除大型/块状完整物体以解决OD数量增长问题的根本原因，清除约5毫米至1厘米的碎片以减轻对大多数运行航天器造成的结束飞行任务的主要威胁，以及防止产生重大碎片的碰撞，作为减缓OD数量增长的临时手段。实现这三种选择中的任何一种都面临着巨大的技术、工程和成本挑战。这将需要创新的想法，改变游戏规则的技术，以及国际层面的重大合作，以解决OD问题并为子孙后代保护近地环境。
The near-Earth space environment has been gradually polluted with orbital debris (OD) since the beginning of space activities 55 years ago. Although this problem has been known to the research community for decades, the public was, in general, unaware of the issue until the anti-satellite test conducted by China in 2007 and the collision between Cosmos 2251 and the operational Iridium 33 in 2009. The latter also underlined the potential of an ongoing collision cascade effect (the "Kessler Syndrome") in the low Earth orbit (LEO, the region below 2000 km altitude). Recent modeling results have indicated that mitigation measures commonly adopted by the international space community will be insufficient to stabilize the LEO debris population. To better limit the OD population increase, more aggressive actions must be considered. There are three options for OD environment remediation-removal of large/massive intact objects to address the root cause of the OD population growth problem, removal of ~5-mm-to-1 cm debris to mitigate the main mission-ending threats for the majority of operational spacecraft, and prevention of major debris-generating collisions as a temporary means to slow down the OD population increase. The technology, engineering, and cost challenges to carry out any of these three options are monumental. It will require innovative ideas, game-changing technologies, and major collaborations at the international level to address the OD problem and preserve the near-Earth environment for future generations.