Work

A Refined Space Environment Index for the Characterization of In-Orbit Fragmentations

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We introduce a refined formulation of the Fragmentation Environmental Index (FEI), designed to assess changes in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment resulting from the fragmentation of a specific mass. The index quantifies this impact by comparing overall LEO criticalities before and after the fragmentation event. To highlight the contribution of smaller debris, we enhance the index by incorporating weighting factors tailored to optical and radar surveillance networks. Testing of the upgraded FEI on a series of simulated fragmentation events shows that it can characterize both the perturbation to the LEO environment and its temporal evolution, providing a more accurate quantification of the short- and medium-term impact of debris clouds compared to the original formulation.

Source: Aerospace

DOI: 10.3390/aerospace12060483

Authors: Luigi Gisolfi, Alessandro Rossi, Francesco Marzari

Institutions: Delft University of Technology, Nello Carrara Institute of Applied Physics, National Research Council, University of Padua

Language: English

Topic: Space Satellite Systems and Control

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funder: Technische Universiteit Delft