Flux of Millimetric Space Debris

Details Flux of Millimetric Space Debris Flux of Millimetric Space Debris

Sep 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995aj....110.1392g&link_type=abstract

Astronomical Journal v.110, p.1392

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

4

Artificial Satellites, Techniques: Radar Astronomy

Scientific paper

In 21.4 hr of zenith radar observations on 4 days at 8510 MHz, we found 831 particles with altitudes between 177 and 1662 km. From the duration of the echoes and the angular size (0.030°) of the antenna beam 157 particles were identified as passing through the side lobes and not through the main beam. Our analysis is based on the 674 particles that did not broaden the beam. On the assumptions that these particles went through the main beam, their radar cross sections vary between 0.02 and 260 mm2, and their radial velocities vary between 700 m/s. If they are conducting spheres, their diameters lie between 2 and 18 mm. If not, they must be larger. The flux of these particles, that is the number per km2 day, was determined in 100 km intervals. The maximum flux, 3.3 particles per km2 day, occurs at 950 km altitude. The small and large particles are not well mixed. The largest particles occur beyond 1000 km and middle-sized particles are missing below 300 km. If the earth's atmosphere caused the smallest particles to lose energy from initial orbits identical to those of the large particles, the orbits would have lower eccentricity at low altitudes. We find a larger eccentricity for the inner particles, and conclude that two or more populations are present.

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